"The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd is a captivating tale set in South Carolina in the 1960s, following the journey of young Lily Owens as she searches for answers about her mother's past. Fleeing her abusive father, Lily finds refuge with three eccentric African American beekeeping sisters. As she learns the art of beekeeping and discovers the power of female friendship and resilience, Lily unravels family secrets and finds healing amidst the backdrop of racial tensions and civil rights struggles. Kidd's evocative prose and richly drawn characters make "The Secret Life of Bees" a poignant and unforgettable read, exploring themes of love, loss, forgiveness, and the transformative power of self-discovery.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book, unfortunately I wasn’t able to get to it before it was archived but will review in full when I do.

This book tells a story of 14 year old girl who is dealing with a abusive father and loss of mother. I really enjoyed the strong female characters throughout the read. An excellent read that I recommend to read everyone.

This book is a beautiful story of love, loss, overcoming prejudices and looking out for one another. The style of writing is very lyrical and works so well, and the background of beekeeping is very interesting and well researched.

Lily has grown up with heartbreak and unanswered questions, and as a result she has filled in the gaps from her childhood herself. She travels to try and find some of the answers from a lady she believes may know her family and history, and what she finds is a loyal, trusting and loving support network that she has never known before. A really heartwarming and life affirming story.

With thanks to NetGalley and Tinder Press for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

After hearing about this book for so long, I was not disappointed to finally read it. Beautifully written and the story flowed in such a way it kept me going back for more every time I put it down. A wonderful story; I would definitely recommend this book to everyone, no matter what their taste.

The Secret Life of Bees was the first book by Sue Monk Kidd that I had read. On a narrative level it centres around a young teenage girl called Lily who we learn, at four years old, was responsible for the death of her mother in a horrible incident involving a gun. This trauma has seared an irrevocable rift between Lily and her father, T-Ray who has since become an unstable alcoholic who brutalises and abuses Lily. In an attempt to find the truth and escape the tyranny of her father, Lily and Rosaleen, a black lady who was hired to raise Lily go on a quest to find out her mother’s origins.
Set in the 1960s in South Carolina, the book deals rather predictably with racial tensions and the attribution of designated gender roles. This narrative feels like it has been done many times, however, the author’s writing was compelling and I felt the narrative was woven securely and the reader guided through each stage of the story without the worry of misconception or misunderstanding. Each chapter was headed with a factual account of the lives of honey bees and how they will go to any length to protect the queen which seemed to serve as the both the moral and metaphor that was being strived for. Characterisation also felt familiar and, at points, did feel stereotypical however I still felt moved by the representation of all the female characters and the bonds they shared. The unity of the characters, in particular the sisters that Lily and Rosaleen meet on their journey were well drawn and their resilience and support of one another coupled with the dawning realisation of this through a child’s perspective was emotionally very poignant.

I was really surprised to see this book listed on NetGalley, it must be on re-release. The title sells itself. The book has been around for a long time and is highly acclaimed, so it was an obvious choice to request.

The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily. She is the single child of father T-Ray who runs a rural peach farm. Lily longs to be loved by her father and is haunted by memories of her mother. Her best relationship is with Rosaleen, part housekeeper, part nanny. When Rosaleen tries to register to vote for the first time, she is involved in an incident which sees her jailed and then hospitalised. Lily helps her escape from hospital and the two go on the run together.

This is one of those books that tells a story which is heartbreaking as much as heartwarming. There are plenty of twists and turns and at times you don't quite know where the story is heading or how it will end. It's a great read, I thought the ending was slightly abrupt, hence 4 star rather than 5 star review.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret Life of Bees is an uplifting story set in America’s Deep South in the 1960’s. Lily is 14 years old and lives with her abusive father on a peach farm. Her mother died when she was young and Lily is looked after by Rosealeen, a black servant. After a violent incident, Lily and Rosealeen flee the farm and end up living with three sisters who take them in. It is here that Lily learns what family really is and finds the love that has been missing in her life.
This is both a funny and incredibly sad book that creates a beautiful story of acceptance and love alongside the racial tensions and violence of the era. Highly recommended.

I would like to begin by commending the author on their beautiful and lyrical writing style, for me it was by far the best thing about this book. The words lifted and danced off the page and it was truly wonderful. I found the plot to be a bit bland and predictable in places, but I know this is a book loved by many so perhaps it was personal preference.

Lily, aged 14,  grew up hated and permanently punished by her father, and with little memory of her mother. Her father only told her that her mother had deserted them both and that she had killed her mother - which Lily can't quite remember. The only person that loved Lily and whom she loved was Rosaleen, one of the peach workers that her father had taken from the farm to look after his daughter. Theirs was a close bond but while Lily was white Rosaleen was black, and when Rosaleen decided she wanted to register to vote she ended up getting into trouble and thrown in jail. When Rosaleen was so badly beaten that she ended up in the hospital, Lily decides that she needs to take Rosaleen out of the hospital and run away with her before she is taken back to jail.

Lily decides to go and find the place in a postcard left by her mother, and there she meets August, May and June - 3 sisters who keep bees and who take Lily and Rosaleen into their home and into their hearts.

This is not an easy read to be finished in a couple of days. It is deep, thought provoking, and extremely well written. The story comes from the heart and the characters are extremely believable. It has a real flavour of the American Deep South with it's prejudices and hatred, but also love and compassion if you look in the right places. I really enjoyed this book - even if you don't like bees I highly recommend it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4089612906

Wow - what a beautiful book. I read and enjoyed The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd last year, but The Secret Life of Bees had something special that made it five stars before I'd even hit the 50% mark. The writting is lyrical and descriptive and makes you feel like you are really there with the characters. Though this isn't an 'action packed' book, the way that the story was told was completely compelling from start to finish. The details around beekeeping were a lovely touch, and the topics covered around this period in time were handled sensitively. I have already purchased this authors other work 'The Invention of Wings' and look forward to getting to it soon. This book has solidified Kidd as an auto-but author for me, and I can't wait to read what she publshes next.

A fantastic read by a new author for me. I am converted as a fan and absolutely cannot wait to read more. This is unique and original. I have been pulled in and unable to put this one down.
I cannot say anything negative about this gorgeous book. it has been a fantastic read.

A poignant story which takes the reader on a journey of growth and retribution. The main protagonist Lily is a likeable character who spends her life feeling responsible for the death of her mother, and this is a very painful read.
As the book progresses, it becomes much more, and the reader sees Lily blossom under the love of Rosaleen.
This was a great book and I will definitely read more by the author.

This has been one of the best reads for me in a long time - and the one I've most recommended to friends, family and anyone else I've come across. It deals with humans and humanity in all shapes, forms and sizes - shows the best and the worst of everyone in a mixture of love, hate, violence, racism, passion and humour. This is one of those books that has just a little bit of everything. Simply written, unpretentious, it tells it as it is. I couldn't put it down. Fortunately, the pace is so fast I didn't lose too much of my life, either. A quick read and ultimately memorable. Fabulous.

Lilly a teenage girl is not getting along with her father and decides to track down her mother who left when Lilly was a young child.
Her journey takes her to South Carolina where her mother was friendly with a family of sisters who tend to beehives and sell honey.
A wonderful story about courage, empathy and sisterhood.
Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This has been on my tbr for a while but I found it sadly disappointing. I don’t know what I was expecting but what I got was yet another story from the pov of a white girl who is ‘saved’ by a black woman. No originality and the prose felt disjointed, the characters two dimensional.

4+

I have no idea why I didn’t read this years ago so it’s a case of better late than never. The year is 1964, the place is South Carolina and President Johnson has just granted the Civil Rights Act which ‘tears things open further’. Lily Owens mother Deborah died when she was four, her ‘onery’ father T. Ray blames her and the only real affection she gets is from their maid Rosaleen. After an incident when Rosaleen goes to try to register to vote, the pair have to leave town quickly and head for Tiburon where they end up living with the Boatwright sisters who produce honey......

This is a beautifully written coming of age story in which eventually Lily finds both peace and love and equally importantly, a real home. I really like how central to the storytelling, apart from the magic of bees, is the power of women, not just the Boatwright sisters and Rosaleen but their friends in the Daughters of Mary. This links to another important theme of spirituality through the Black Madonna. August Boatwright is a wonderful character of great wisdom and patience as she shows Lily the way through her pain and loss. There are several instances where there is tension, in particular racial tension, with several characters experiencing horrific racist treatment which breaks your heart. The book captures the times extremely well as Lily realises the significance that some people attach to skin pigment. Lily’s relationship with her father is very difficult and although T.Ray is a horrible character she comes to appreciate that he has lost much too. This does not forgive him his appalling treatment of her or his lack of love. Lily is intriguing, she’s very complex, an accomplished liar who doesn’t know when to stop over egging the pudding but she is also creative, very brave and loyal to Rosaleen. The secret life of bees element produces some fabulous images and demonstrates what incredibly wise insects they are which August reflects on and demonstrates.

Overall, this is touching and emotional in places and tense and heartbreaking at others covering harsh issues but giving strong messages about love and it’s healing power.

With thanks to NetGalley and Headline:Tinder Press for the copy in return for an honest review.

I somehow missed this little gem waiting on my to read list but oh I’m so glad I noticed it in time. It’s a delightful story with finely drawn characters. Made me laugh out loud which is good and reminded me a little of We begin at the end by Chris Whitaker. Not quite so good as his work but very pleasant to read all the s@me.

The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed. When Lily's fierce-hearted black "stand-in mother," Rosaleen, insults three of the deepest racists in town, Lily decides to spring them both free. They escape to Tiburon, South Carolina--a town that holds the secret to her mother's past.

The writing style is noteworthy and so vivid that I was astonished when I didn’t actually feel the warm sun of South Carolina on my skin and hear the bees buzzing around me. The author has written this story beautifully. My only negaitve is that is seemed dragged out towards the end a little but overall did not ruin the story. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.