The Beekeeper of Aleppo is an absolutely brilliant book, we chose it as our book of choice for our book club, every so often a book comes along that you read and it stays with you, for me this is one of those books. It was a difficult read in parts, if I am honest, but that’s because is telling the characters story as it happened and for the characters life was a difficult journey. I can’t recommend this book enough, a definite must read. Thanks Netgalley and Christy Lefteri for the arc.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri is a powerful and moving story that will haunt you long after the final page has been turned. A gripping, relevant and beautifully written story that highlights the resilience of the human spirit, this is a book that moves and inspires, taking you on a journey that encompasses everything from loss to untold bravery.

With memorable characters that you can’t help but fall in love with, Christy Lefteri has written an exhilarating story that captured my imagination from the very first page, leaving a profound and emotional impact on me as the story finally drew to a close.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is without a doubt a heartbreaking read that’s full of horror and despair, but is also a tale filled to the brim with hope and love that will stay with me for a long time to come. The powerful writing brought this hauntingly beautiful, moving and scarily relevant story vividly to life, allowing a deeper understanding of asylum seekers and shining a spotlight on the real people behind the headlines.

A moving, inspiring and heartachingly beautiful novel that I would highly recommend.

5☆ An Unmissable Read!

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a poignant, thought provoking and highly Compelling story of courage, determination, survival, starting over and escaping the horrors of war.

It's a riveting, real, authentic and very moving story about a husband and wife losing everything, becoming refugee's and there desperate need for survival and belonging in a very different world of uncertainties.
I adore all the wonderful facts and information about the bees. It melted my heart how Nuri cared for them.

I also loved Nuri and Afra's relationship.
Nuri's wife Afra is blind and Nuri cares for her describing everything he sees, he tries so hard to give her hope and happiness again, despite only seeing sadness and darkness in her eyes. There relationship really touched my heart.

I haven't read a book quiet like this before, that has emotionally moved me and made such an impact.
It's absolutely captivating yet oh so heart breaking at the same time.

Christy Lefteri is an incredibly talented author.
Her descriptive writing enabled me to fully immerse myself and she instantly transported me into the heart of this powerful and gut-wrenching story.
Her writing is full of empathy and compassion, it's powerful, honest and
Heartbreakingly authentic.

The Characters are Fascinating, Endearing and ones I will remember.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is an unmissable and unique read that once read will truly stay with you for a lifetime
It touches the heart and pulls the reader in.
I loved how the story switches between past and present stories seamlessly and the idea of one word linking past to present chapters was so very clever.
Just one last thing to mention is how absolutely stunning the book cover is, one I will treasure.

Thank you to Compulsive Readers Tours and Bonnier Zaffre Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Leftari is a modern story based on fictional characters centred around the true event that is unfortunately still unfolding day by day with no resolution in sight. The war in Syria has been raging on for many years with so many people forced to flee the place they called home and seek refuge where ever they can. This story follows the journey of Nuri and his wife Afra as they have face no choice but to leave the destroyed city of Aleppo as chaos, destruction, danger and death rains all around them. They have stayed as long as they possibly can but now they have no choice but to flee the evil regime which has thrown so many lives into disarray, lawlessness and uncertainty.

All hope is lost and faced with danger, death, fear and the lack of basic necessities Nuri takes the brave decision to escape under the cover of darkness with the help of a smuggler. When we are first introduced to him the couple are now in the UK staying in a B&B and waiting to see will their application seeking asylum be successful. The novel then moves back and forth between the present day and back to the times pre-war when Nuri can recollect positive times. It also focuses on the various stages of the journey to reach a place where they believed they would find safety, security, friendship and a future.

I've become accustomed to reading books about war, most specifically World War One and Two as historical fiction is a genre that I find fascinating and enjoy reading, but for me the fact that the Syrian War is still ongoing and is featured weekly and daily in news headlines makes The Beekeeper of Aleppo all the more realistic and hard hitting. It's not like the events, places and situations the author writes about took place many years ago and in some way we almost distance ourselves from the fact that they happened because it was so long ago. No, everything that is mentioned here is occurring even as I sit here and write this review and having finished the book it's really not something that should continue to be ignored or forgotten about.

Nuri and Afra are the voice of thousands upon thousands of people who have lost their homes and family members and can no longer view Syria as a sanctuary and a safe place to live. What once was a country filled with beautiful cities and bustling neighbourhoods is now mostly in ruins and the sounds of bombing and fighting are common place and second nature. This book is really an eye opener and yes at times it is a very difficult read given no detail is spared in describing what Nuri witnessed as he travelled across Europe with Afra by his side never knowing would he reach his final destination and be reunited with his cousin and workmate Mustafa who had already made the perilous trip.

Nuri and Afra have come from the worst place on earth that once meant so much to them. Aleppo was where they met and fell in love, where their son Sami was born, and where Nuri and Mustafa were bee keepers transforming their love of bees and nature into a very profitable business. I have seen people ask is the book very detailed in relation to bee keeping given that is the title but it's not, the strands of the story relating to bees are used as a symbol of hope and happiness. For when Nuri was outside tending to the beehives on the hills overlooking his beautiful city of Aleppo that is when he felt at his best but now all that has been taken away from him. His family have suffered such cruelty, loss, devastation and destruction and with their beloved Sami gone and Afra now blind, the reason for which only becomes apparent much later in the story, Nuri feels that he is faced with no other option but to leave. The life he once had is gone forever and he can hold his memories close to his heart but the reality is nothing will never be the same again and he must venture forward into an unknown future in the hopes of reaching the ultimate goal of reaching the U.K.

At first I found it disconcerting that the last word of each chapter was the same word which began Nuri's recollections of his journey. I thought there had been a mistake with the copy I was reading but I soon realised it was a very clever way from the author of bridging the past with the present instead of using specific dates, times and places as subheadings within chapters. As I settled into the story I found it to be a quick read and the writing was beautiful and very descriptive which sounds silly to be saying giving the subject matter and especially due to some of the images conjured up but Christy Leftari does have a very good way with words that before I knew I found I was nearing the end of the book. I was still wondering what the eventual outcome would be and to be honest I thought really that I should have grasped a little earlier what exactly Nuri was experiencing as all the clues were there.

Nuri's yearning for wanting to live in a world that was unbroken takes both himself and Afra on a journey that will shape and alter the people they will become in the future. It's hard to believe that refugees fleeing from Syria and also many different countries go through so much to try and get something that we take for granted every minute of every day. That is freedom and a safe and secure place to call home surrounded by those we love. We see endless reports of little boats capsized in seas carrying innumerable refugees and now it has become the norm but here Nuri through his recollections brings the story to life and no detail is spared even though the images conjured are very difficult to get rid of once they settle inside your head.

Nuri and Afra experience such fear, terror, horror and persecution but really they are placed in such a vulnerable situation as once they get on board and lie in the back of the smugglers truck as it leaves Aleppo their future is in the hands of others. At some stages they depend on the kindness of others but at other times Nuri has to venture to dark places in order to pull them out of the depths of despair. Nuri is brave and selfless and without him Afra would be lost. It was almost like she has shut down and removed herself mentally from the situation and the journey and, even though we do know they reach the UK in the guest house, Afra is no longer the person she once was. But through it all Nuri stands by her and there is no questioning the love he feels for this woman who is his everything and was the mother of his child. But still he is only human and the sense of grief, loss and displacement that he feels echoes through every word he utters and every event and moment he informs the reader of be it through emails to Mustafa or through recounting times spend in migrant camps across Europe.

The power of memory is very important throughout the story and not to be under estimated and Nuri clings to this at every opportunity. The people he has met along the way in particular a young boy named Mohammad provide many opportunities for Nuri to go back from the present day in the B&B to the various stops on his journey with Afra. Of all the most unsettling and disturbing things I read about throughout the book were the scenes set in the park in Athens. No human be they refugee or not should have to endure such appalling conditions where it appears as if people have been forgotten and left there to rot. They reach depths of deprivation which I struggled to comprehend in order just to continue existing in the hopes the final stage of the journey can be embarked upon. Pre-war I am sure Nuri and Afra could never have imagined what the future would bring them but war made them refugees and given they had no choice they had to keep going when it seemed as if everything was lost.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is an eye opening read which deals with grief, loss and the trauma of leaving what was once home in order to voyage in to uncertainty. It is a thought provoking read that would be ideal for a book club discussion. There are gleams of hope and happiness amongst the sadness and depression but one wonders can Nuri and Afra ever truly experience the wonder, love, enjoyment and peace of mind that existed pre-war? The Beekeeper of Aleppo will take you out of your comfort zone and get under your skin as it raises so many topics relevant to today’s society and our attitudes as a whole towards them. It's certainly a difficult read but nonetheless a necessary one.

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<p>Thank you to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book from the publishers in return for a fair and honest review. </p>
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<p>I had heard a lot about this book but I was not prepared for how much it would affect me. Right from the start the book pulls you in to the worlds of Nuri and Afra, and their journey from Syria and the the horrors that they have encountered.</p>
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<p>Nuri and Mustafa are great friends and they are pulled apart by the war and both experience huge losses. They manage to keep in touch as both of them make the brutal journey as refugees to come to England. </p>
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<p>Now living in a bed and breakfast in England waiting to seek asylum the book retells the story of their lives before the war and how they came to be here. </p>
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<p>The book is written in such a beautiful way that you feel like you can see the bees and the countryside of Aleppo it also shows the horrific nature of war and the consequences.</p>
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<p>It is very hard to read in places and it made me very sad to know that although this is a story that this type of plight happens daily. However distressing it is, it is important to read as although Nuri, Afra and Mustafa are fictional there are many who are not.</p>
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<p>A sombre but beautiful, touching and emotional read and a sense of hope in a dark world.</p>
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"If I could give her a key that opened a door into another world, then I would wish for her to see again. But it would have to be a world very different from this one."

I inhaled this mesmerising, poignant and illuminating novel in under a day. It is honestly one of the most beautiful books I’ve read and I was captivated by the exquisite, lyrical prose and stunning imagery that made every word one to savour.

This timely story shines a light on the struggle of those who are forced to flee because of war, from a perspective we rarely hear: the voice of a refugee. At a time where there is so much vitriol against them, where so many people see as the enemy, as someone who shouldn’t be in our country, it is refreshing to read a book that tells their story is such a beautiful and heartbreaking way; helping those of us who’ve never experienced such horror to have a small amount of understanding.

It is told by Syrian refugee, Nuri, who made the perilous journey from Syria to the UK with his wife Afra, who was blinded by a bomb. In the present day we follow their battle to claim asylum while trying to adjust to the strangeness of the new country they hope to call home. In flashbacks we see their life in Aleppo before the war, how it was torn apart, their heartbreak as they lost their only child, and then follow them as they make the dangerous journey to England. We see the impact of all they’ve gone through on themselves and their marriage, threatening to tear them apart at their core as well as breaking apart the only thing they have left to hold on to - each other.

"Where was home now? And what was it? I'm my mind it had become like a picture infused with golden light, a paradise never to be reached."

This was the first time I’ve read a book by this author and I will definitely be reading more. Her writing enveloped me in their world, making me feel like I was right beside Nuri every step of the way both physically and emotionally. The characterisation was spectacular, with the author providing an eclectic mix of people who had very different stories from war-torn places around the world, and different reactions to what they’d gone through. There were wonderful examples of the best of humanity in the darkest of times, but also of the depth of evil that exists in our world and the damage that is done by such people. The raw devastation and grief that each character exuded was hard, but necessary, to read, and was a humbling reminder of how our problems pale in comparison to being forced from your home and fighting each day to survive and find safety.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a story about the horrors of war, trauma, grief and survival. But most of all for me it is a multifaceted love story. It is an astonishing book that went straight to my soul. I can’t recommend you read this highly enough.

A gorgeous, unique, wonderful beauty of a book that should be read by everyone. This is a novel of true importance, especially in light of current world events, and it offers you a compassionate and rare insight into the world beneath the sensationalist headlines. This book is a rare treasure that should be read by everyone.

So what happens when your. country get invaded and you lose everything, have to leave home and travel to another country and hope they take your family in? Your wife loses her sight, she was an artist, you lose your livelihood. The6 travel to England and find their cousin has got a job for them, with bees, and life starts all over again. A heartwarming story of courage, independence, and families. I found this book an inspiration, and the knowledge that our life here is much better than we think.

Every now and then a book comes along that has the wow factor as it combines a haunting and compelling plot, characters that you really connect with and touch your heart and feel every emotion under the sun; for me The Beekeeper of Aleppo is that novel. Nuri and Afra live in Aleppo with their son Sami, where Nuri and his cousin Mustafa keep bees and sell the honey from their shop. When the war comes they loose everything and decide to leave Aleppo and journey to England where Mustafa has already settled. This book follows their journey, the highs and lows as they risk it all for a new life. This book is just so beautiful to read yet hard at times as Nuri and Afra struggle to leave their homeland and make the perilous journey half way around the world.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo really opened my eyes to the war in Aleppo and how difficult the journey was out of Syria and the challenges faced by those fleeing to Europe. Like most people I knew a bit about the war from what I have seen on the news or read in the newspapers, but after reading this I realised how little I really knew. Christy Lefteri has a wonderfully descriptive writing style which is a feast for the senses. I have only seen images of Aleppo during the war, a city in ruins, but Christy paints the picture of the city before this with its heat, exotic smells, beautiful architecture and bright colours. There is a real sensuality to this picture of Aleppo and a complete opposite to what Nuri and Afra experience in England.

Nuri and Afra find themselves in some difficult and dangerous situations on their journey to England but what shines through is their courage, strength and love for each other in the face of adversity. Nuri is spurred on this journey by Mustafa, already in England and been granted asylum. Their journey is made more difficult by the fact Afra lost her sight after a bomb in Aleppo, so relies on Nuri for everything. In some ways her loss of vision stops her from seeing the most disturbing images that Nuri protects her from on their journey; the killing of children, and the awful immigration camps. Along the way they meet many people from different places, all with different stories to tell which I found both fascinating and horrifying at times. The story of Nuri and Afra’s journey reminded me of Homer’s Odyssey in the trials and adversity they faced on their way to a new life.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a story of love, war, family, loss and ultimately hope. Nuri and Afra show such strength, and courage and always find light in the darkest of times. Immigration is a topic that always makes the news and this book highlights how difficult the journey to England is for the refugees and the horrors of what they are running from. Beautiful, intelligent and emotional, this is a powerful read and and brilliant one.

Escaping from war-torn Syria, this is a most thought provoking book narrating the journey of a husband and wife who have experienced absolute horror prior to their flight. Seeking to arrive in England, they encounter open then closed borders. Legal then illegal transit using people smugglers. It highlights the different cultures of nations in the world, the greed, the kindness of humanity and the appalling atrocities humans can inflict on one another.

This is a remarkable book written by a remarkable woman. I have recently been to a talk given by Christy Lefteri and Mike Thomson who has written "Syria's Secret Library". This non-fiction book confirms the strength of people who have stayed in Syria and the fiction gives some explanations for why individuals flee from their homes. I found "The Beekeeper of Aleppo" a harrowing read in places and I would expect that Mike Thomson's would be the same.

The research which Lefteri has undertaken has been as ithorough as that of Thomson, which means the circumstances the Ibrahim's found themselves in sound authentic. I had read part of the book before the lecture and this authenticity was evident then. Now I am even more impressed by this voice. The scenes of life in Aleppo before the war, during the war, the travelling to the border, Istanbul and the boat trip all ring true from what I had already read elsewhere. It is when Nuri and Afra arrive in Greece where the reality of life hits them that I think the book is most powerful. This is where Lefteri spent time working with the refugees. I found the passages describing the park very menacing and so much was left to my imagination as to what was happening there that I was expecting something more sinister to occur after every paragraph. The tension was palpable. The street of hope and the Hope centre for women and children was like an oasis and did breathe hope into the story.

The split timings of the book contributed cleverly to the book. In England I wanted to know they were safe and would be granted asylum. On their travels I wanted to know that the next step on their way to England was safely navigated. We move from one time span to another with tension each time. The darkness both main characters face contrasts one with the other, both are concerned about the other, but it becomes clear that Afra although she is blind 'sees' their situation better than Nuri and feels helpless to help him.

The end of the book is very poignant and leaves the reader full of hope and questions about their future. It happens almost abruptly and this perhaps contrasts with what refugees themselves feel. They want to move on and create a new life but are in limbo. Yet there is still a yearning for the old days back home.

A fabulous read with empathy in buckets and I have been left with the need to donate again to a cause which has fallen out of the news a little in recent months. Especially as I have been able to read this powerful book for free.

I adored this book. It tells such a moving story, the characters are so well developed and it really made me think about what other people in this world go through. Highly recommend.

We often read articles about the latest boat to run into trouble as people try to make it to England from countries where life is unbearable and dangerous. In fact, it's more than a daily occurence. I just did a quick search to see what was in the news currently. Yesterday, 41 migrants were picked up by British authorities as they tried to reach the UK. Today, nine migrants were rescued from their sinking boat near Calais. Four hours ago it was reported that in Italy police arrested three people over the rape and torture of migrants in a Libyan camp.

As I read this book, I wanted things to get better. I read hungrily to try and reach a place where Nuri and Afra had become safe and were able to sleep at night - without fear. I followed them out of the hard country, out of the horrors of Aleppo where the stories shared - willing them to reach those 'softer' countries where life wouldn't be quite so terrible. But the horrors continued.

It is not enough that a person can be without a country - that is not the worst thing to happen to them anymore it seems. No, it seems once you are without a country you become fair game for all the other atrocities that life can throw at you. You're almost not considered human anymore. The Beekeeper of Aleppo is a story about hope, yes. But it's also a story about the power of despair.

This book will take you on both a Geographical journey and an emotional one. One day, this book will join the books of History alongside Kiss The Dust (Elizabeth Laird) and The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank). At least, we can hope that it well. For now though, this book is very much the current state of the world - although it's fiction it contains a powerful narrative derived from the very real prospects that some parts of the world are experiencing.

Someone asked how much Beekeeping is actually talked about in this book. I replied that really, it's more about the state of the world, of human nature. Of the very worst and the very best that we, as human beings, are capable of.

I really enjoyed this book. Nuri and his wife lived in Aleppo, where he ran a beekeeping business with his cousin Mustafa. When life in Syria becomes too much to bear and they fear for their lives, they flee. The story alternates between their new life in England, waiting to see if they will be granted asylum, and the horrors of their journey. Events have had an effect on both of them. This is a heart breaking story, but one I'm glad to have read. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
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A heartbreaking story of love, lose, war and rebuilding a shattered life.
This books paints a picture of how beautiful Syria was before the carnage, of how indiscriminately the Syrian people’s lives and land have been destroyed and the battle to escape and start a new life.
Beautifully written it has you hooked until the very last page. Highly recommended read.

This book is a work of art. Sometimes, authors can build such a vivid picture in the reader's mind through words alone, and Lefteri is one of those incredibly talented artists. If you loved 'Where The Crawdads Sing', you need to read this one next.

Nuri and his wife Afra live in Aleppo with their son Sami. Nuri and his ambitious cousin Mustafa have an apiary business where their lives revolve around tending to the bees and producing the finest honey. But, in the midst of violence, Aleppo becomes a target of the war. No longer safe in the country they call home, the family must flee for their safety. Told through the eyes of Nuri as he adjusts to his new life in England, his memories flash back as he fights his demons and recounts the difficult journey he and his wife made to find not only a new home but each other after suffering an unimaginable loss.

Beautifully written and emotionally real combined with outstanding storytelling. I connected with the characters and gained the smallest insight into what life is really like for people who aren't safe in their own country, It was heartbreaking to read and I just wanted to take everyone in and welcome them with open arms to a place where they can belong. Credit to the author for bringing this story to life. It will remain in my heart for a long time to come.

Emotionally a tough read at times but totally worth it to gain even an insight to how brave some people are. I am sure this in only the tip of the iceberg when looking at the journeys some people have faced just to feel safe. It will make you think

This is a really good book and I would put it in the category alongside Khaled Hossenin’s “A Thousand Splendid Suns”, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s “Half of A Yellow Sun”.


This story is about Nuri and his wife Afra, who find them themselves seeking asylum in the UK, but before then we follow them on their harrowing and gruelling journey to safety.

Nuri and his cousin Mustafa are part owners in the honey business. Nuri was taught by Mustafa how to tend the bees and they found that he had a natural affinity with them. Where Mustafa is the one to blend and sell the honey, Nuri was the full time beekeeper who tended all of the apiaries along with other workers that they employed, in the fields on the outskirts of Aleppo.

While Nuri worked with the bees his wife Afra painted, she was becoming quite well known artist and she would go to the local bazaars to sell her paintings to the tourists. However things started to change when civil war broke out in Syria. Aleppo became a carcass of bombed out homes and businesses.

His cousin Mustafa sent his wife and daughter away in the hope that they would find asylum in the UK, and he planned to meet up with them there once they had settled in and had been granted asylum.

One day Nuri went to see his cousin but the house was deserted, after looking around the house Nuri noticed that Mustafa had left him a letter explaining why he’d left so suddenly along with enough money for Nuri and Afra to seek passage to the UK.

Before Nuri and Afra left Aleppo they saw some terrible sights. With one particular event making her loose her sight, which was seeing their son die in front of them when a bomb hit their back garden. Afra didn’t want to leave straight away after loosing their son. But when they both had to hide so they wouldn’t be killed while their house was being ransacked and destroyed, they knew then that they had no other choice but to leave.

Their journey to the UK is harrowing, heart breaking and extremely dangerous. With Afra loosing her sight, Nuri had to do everything for her to make sure she stays safe. But with each day that passed Nuri becomes more and more distant from Afra.

During this journey Nuir meets a young boy travelling on his own, so he takes him under his wing making sure that he has food and clothing. Until one day he goes missing while they are at a refugee camp in Greece. Nuri spends weeks looking for the boy before finally realising that they can’t keep waiting for him to return.

Nuri and Afra eventually make it to the UK and start the long process of seeking asylum from war torn Syria. During this time they meet up with Mustafa and his family, where they can all hopefully put their lives back together.

Like I said at the beginning of this review you go through a roller coaster of emotions. If you like books about modern history and a different culture, then I’m sure you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

A great, well-researched story that kept me turning the pages! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reading copy.

Where there are bees there are flowers, and where there are flowers there is new life and hope”. This is the quote that will stay with me from this novel. The story is based on one families journey from Syria to the UK. It is heart-breaking and enlightening. We see news coverage about Syria constantly, to the point where I realised that I had somehow stopped considering the human impact. This book jolted me back to reality and made me more empathetic towards the people directly involved. Those who have raised their families in their home town, lose their livelihoods, everything they know has torn apart.



Nuri and his wife Afra, along with other family members, had a successful family beekeeping business in Aleppo. They did not want to leave but circumstances meant they had to and they began their journey over to the UK. It was evident that during her time as a volunteer at a refugee centre in Athens, the author Christy Lefteri, was immersed in the conditions, dangers and emotion of those making this journey. The imagery in the novel allows the reader to grasp what life is like, being held at refugee centres, making the treacherous journey by boat in the middle of the night, never quite knowing who to trust.



The beekeeping business meant a lot to the family. Through the demise of the business and the epic journey of the couple, the reader learns a little about the behaviour of bees. I found myself drawing parallels to humans. Bees are resilient, they can thrive in a variety of conditions and they adapt based on their circumstances. They may be different in Syria to the UK, but they can thrive in either place if treated well and given time to adapt.



Overall, a great read and I’d definitely recommend it