I had to take several breaks while reading The Beekeeper of Aleppo because it is a HEAVY read. It follows Nuri and Afra, husband and wife, as they flee Syria to join their family in the UK as refugees. The main bulk of the story takes place in Syria, where we see how their lives were before and after, and in Greece, where they stay for a while as part of their journey.

We also spend a lot of time in a B&B in England as Nuri and Afra apply for refugee status, and also try to come to terms with how their lives are now. I found these chapters very interesting as I know nothing about the process for seeking asylum in my country, but this book did a good job of starting to open my eyes to it.

I found the flashbacks as Nuri reflects their journey equally interesting, and equally as heartbreaking. It's absolutely tragic, but a very insightful read. I could throw around positive adjectives all day because The Beekeeper of Aleppo really touches you.

While this isn't an Own Voices book, the author has spent a lot of time volunteering at refugee camps and has heard from many different people who are traveling to Europe in search of a safer and better life. I'm very grateful that she decided to tell these stories, as I think a lot of us Westerners could learn a lot from this book.

This is a very emotional and heart wrenching read. A fictional story about seeking asylum and the hardships people are willing to take, that felt so real!

It was a little slow in places and the kindle format made it hard to distinguish between the two timeframes.

However, all In all, a deep, eye-opening and thought provoking read.

This is one of those books that I've seen everywhere. It's recieved glowing reviews and everyone who reads it talks about how impactful it was. Perhaps this is why I'm only getting around to it now, I knew it was going to be a tough read but what I wasn't prepared for was how beautiful it was

The Beekeper Of Aleppo tells the story of Nuri and his wife Afra as they escape war torn Syria and travel through Turkey and Greece to seek asylum in the UK. It switches seamlessly between a past from pre-war to the perilous journey to escape and the present as they await their asylum application outcome, linked beautifully each time by a single word,

I felt we got to know them so well, not just as refugees but as people with hopes, dreams, family and friends before it was snatched away. They are so ordinary, yet suddenly find themselves in the most horrifically extraordinary situation imaginable. It's difficult to understand how anyone can go through so much yet still have hope and determination to carry on. Their journey is harrowing and shocking, but there's also discomfort at their treatment as they navigate the asylum process here. My heart ached for these people and put my own current worries firmly into perspective

But there is a lot of hope and beauty within this book. I loved the way the author describes and brings to life pre-war Aleppo, the love and loyalty between Nuri and Afra is stunning and the enthusiasm of cousin Mustafa, already settled in the UK, of starting again with British bees and throwing himself into the community is inspirational. The Beekeeper of Aleppo portrays the very worst cruelty and destruction from humans, but also shines a light on the very best - courage, hope and love. Heartbreaking, thoughtprovoking and inspiring- a must read for everyone

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri is the most moving novel I’ve read this year. When war destroys the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo, Nuri, a beekeeper, along with his wife Afra, set out on the treacherous journey through Turkey and Greece, searching for somewhere to call home.

And the reader journey’s too, leaving behind the bees and sweet-scented heather-covered hills of Syria, to experience the horrors and loss of the present day, as Nuri and Afra use every ounce of their reserve, enduring the pains and emotional indignity of life within refugee camps. Having worked with refugees in Athens, Christy Lefteri avoids addressing the political rights and wrongs of Nuri and Afra’s plight. Instead, she shines a lens on the desperate experiences of a couple caught up in the shocking turmoil of war.

But it’s also a tale filled with hope and small kindnesses, as Nuri and Afra seek safety and to be with the ones they love. It is not in the least surprising that this touching, important novel has become a book club favourite. One I urge everyone to read.

Beautiful and moving story of a husband and wife fleeing war torn Syria to find a new life. It is equally humbling and moving and there are scenes that will stay with me forever. Very beautiful writing,

A beautiful, evocative story. Wonderful characterisation and friendships. The horrors in Aleppo are sensitively described. A must read

What a beautiful book! Loved the story, the writing, the characters. Heartbreaking and heartwarming.

Told in a dual time line, this book tells the story of Nuri and his wife, Afra and their treacherous and traumatic journey from war torn Syria to England, as well as showing them finally living in the UK. Nuri had a wonderful life in Syria, he was a beekeeper with his cousin, Mustafa. They sold their honey products all over the world, but when the war started their lives were completely destroyed. Mustafa and his family flee first to England, but something rather sad and poignant is holding Nuri and Afra back. Finally, he can take no more and leaves his life behind.

I adored this book!
It is so beautifully written and you instantly warm to Nuri. He is a simple man with a love for simple pleasures, but the journey to England changes him dramatically. For period of time, he believes he will never reach his destination. The only thing that keeps him going, are the regular emails from his cousin, raising his spirits and telling him all the wonderful things England has offered him.

I loved the way the book used a single word in chapters to transport us between his journey and the difficulties he faced. It was so cleverly created. All the references to bees, were beautiful and I learned so much about them from this book. I love coming away from fiction with new facts.

This book makes you appreciate how difficult life is for the refugees and I think sometimes we forget why they leave their country the first place. No one would leave unless they really had to, and this book demonstrates this so well. It isn't just their homes they leave behind, but also their families and all the fond memories they had. I can't even begin to imagine how terrifying that must be. Then to be treated like they were criminals when they do arrive and put through so much more, just to find a place to call home. My heart ached for Nuri, Afra and all the other refugees from other countries as they tried to escape. There were many who won't so lucky as Nuri. Many children found themselves without their parents, leading them to a life you wouldn't wish on your enemies.

I recently read The Boy at the Back of the Class by Onjali Q. Rauf, and I would say that The Beekeeper of Aleppo is the adult version of that book. You will need tissues by the end of this book, but it does make you realise that the toughest situations makes us stronger and there is always a silver lining at the end.


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Wow what a heartbreaking but powerful audiobook!
The story of Nuri and Afra escaping the civil war in Syria, and their journey across Europe to find his cousin Mustafa in the UK really was heartbreaking. They really didn’t want to leave but had to if they wanted to survive. Aleppo the city they lived in was destroyed by the bombs and fighting so there was little food and water. They had no choice but to leave and take a very dangerous journey trusting strangers for help and to be smuggled.
As the story progresses I learnt more about Nuri and Afra’s marriage and want was wrong with it, but I didn’t find out until near end why they behaved the way they did.
The descriptions of Aleppo before the civil war were wonderful, which made the situation even sadder. It made me think about all the people who have had to leave over the years and also the fact that the media don’t seem to be reporting about it any more.
The writing was so amazing that I kept forgetting that this was a work of fiction and not a true account of Nuri and Afra’s journey. In fact I had to Google a few times to make sure!
Art Malik’s narration was absolutely superb. I especially loved the way he voiced Nuri, who’s story was told through flashbacks and in the present time, while he waited to be granted asylum. The emotion he put into the characters was fantastic, I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to another book narrated by him.
I highly recommend this if you enjoy fictionalised accounts of true stories.

A beautifully tragic story which follows the journey of Nuri and Afra through their journey from Aleppo to the UK. We are drawn back in time and cast to the present, bearing witness to the horror of their lives in recent times. Incredible

Wow oh wow this has been on my TBR for far too long. I have been completely and utterly captivated by this gorgeous read.
This is a heartbreaking and realistic view of the refugee experience and I’m extremely touched by this read. I actually don’t know how how any reviews I write could do this book justice. This is a book I will be thinking about for a while.
This is definitely thought provoking and haunting. I have absolutely loved it. I cannot praise this book highly enough. I would even go as far as saying this is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
I have loved the writer’s style, I have been completely captivated from the very first page and have devoured this book in just one sitting.
This is powerful and completely unforgettable. It’s a book which gives the reader a real taste of what life was like for the characters. I am completely overwhelmed by the emotional rollercoaster that this book has taken me on.
This is without a doubt a five star read only this is one of those books which is worthy of so many more stars. I am so touched by this book and completely honoured to have reviewed this gorgeous book.

So different to my normal reads but such a well written emotive book. It will leave me thinking g about it for days to come

This book is an emotive, haunting story about a husband and wife's nerve- wracking journey from Syria to the UK. This book tracks their heartbreaking journey and details how it affects each differently.

This is a heart-wrenching book, with breathtakingly beautiful moments.

Nuri and Afra are refugees from Aleppo, Syria who are fleeing the war that has ripped their lives apart. Witnessing the destruction of their city and the catastrophic consequences that the war has inflicted on their lives, they must leave their home under the cover of darkness and start their perilous journey to the UK.

Moving between the past and the present, the book charts their migration - across dangerous waters, into the homes of smugglers, from tents to blankets in the middle of the wood and everything in between. Although as a reader, you are aware that the couple have made it to the UK, the book is riveting in describing how they got there.

This book is a difficult read, due to the nature of the story, but it is a necessary one as this can be a migrant's reality. I found it utterly captivating in its beautiful descriptions of Aleppo before the war as well as the moments that Nuri finds a little comfort in his new surroundings. Lefteri's descriptions of PTSD highlight the repercussions of trauma in the mind, despite the body finding safety and security in a different country - it was sensitively approached and executed very well.

The final image in the book was filled with hope and it will stay with me for a very long time. A beautiful end to a fantastically-written novel.

I'm not sure where to begin in reviewing The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Do I start with the beautiful prose? Or the ingenious way of switching between timeframes? Or the characters who left me heartbroken? Or do I start with, this might be fiction but it's a very real experience for so many people even as I write this? I think this is the main thing you have to keep in mind the whole time you're reading this outstanding novel.

Nuri and Afra had a good life in Aleppo. Nuri had a successful beekeeping business with his cousin Mustafa, producing honey and other honey-based products. Afra sold her paintings in the busy marketplace. Their son Sami was an absolute delight. Then the war started. And everything changed.

Christy Lefteri leaves us in no doubt as to the trauma suffered by Nuri and his family. But it doesn't end with the war. In an attempt to reach safety, we travel with Nuri through battlefields and navigate treacherous seas. Then there's the people whose hearts aren't filled with altruism but greed. There were times when it was almost unbearable to read and that's where Christy Lefteri's beautiful prose came into play. Her words led me through the worst times.

I think reading this during lockdown heightened the experience for me. At first I wasn't sure if I should read it during such a stressful time. However The Beekeeper of Aleppo helped to put things into perspective for me. All I have to do is stay home (I know this isn't the same for so many keyworkers). I don't have to flee my home, my country with only a few belongings. I don't have to trust people who you wouldn't normally trust to feed your cat. I don't have to cross a sea in a small boat with many other people or live in a camp or a park. The Beekeeper of Aleppo left me counting my blessings with a tear in my eye. A stunning read. Thank you for letting me read it.

Absolute classic many had told me about this book and l was eager to try and was not disappointed l would recommend a modern classic in the making

The author paints a rich picture of life in Aleppo before war destroys it and the lives of those within it. The story focuses on Nuri and Afra, a married couple who have suffered a terrible loss, which deeply impacts both of them in ways which only become clear towards the end of the book. They don't want to leave their home but are left with no choice when their lives are at risk. I found the story of their journey from Syria across Europe harrowing and heartbreaking, both for them and the people they meet along the way.

It's difficult for someone who lives in a safe country to imagine what it would take to make someone leave everything they have ever known and potentially everyone they have ever known. This book tells just a few of those heartbreaking stories.

This is a beautifully written story about the power of compassion and hope in the face of adversity. I've given this 5 out of 5.

Wow what an emotional journey, a very moving book. I liked the jumps from past and present, it was very well written. It certainly makes you realise what some people endure.

Christy Lefteri has written a beautiful, heartbreaking tale. Her characters are achingly real. "The Beekeeper Of Aleppo" should be required reading for the Brexit brigade and anyone else who thinks that asylum seekers and refugees have an easy ride.

The thought provoking narrative of the flight of Syrian refugees will stay with me for a long time. This novel by Christy Kefkeri captured the trauma of fleeing a war torn country, the journey and hope of a better life. Interspersed with the memories of life as a beekeeper Nuri and his wife Afra, leave Syria after the death of their only child with the hope of being reunited with Nuri’s cousin Mustafa. At times I found myself in tears imagining the horrors they faced and yet hope and nature prevailed, Both characters were obviously suffering from PTSD as were other refugees they met on their journey.

A well written account of a refugees struggle to adapt to a fast changing situation, where decisions are made that could affect you your whole life.

Thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for an ARC of this book