Contemporary Fiction | Adult
<image The Music of Bees, by Eileen Garvin (2021)>
Every once in a while, you discover a book that delights you to the core, that connects with your soul in a completely unexpected way. You just want to tell everyone about it! This book is like that for me. It is the story of three very different, very lonely people whose lives intersect, and that connection changes them and their lives. At the centre of the novel is 44-year-old Alice Holtzman, a beekeeper who works at the Hood River county planning office. She once dreamed of being a farmer and a mother, but life has cruelly crushed those dreams. Jake is eighteen years old, with the tallest mohawk haircut in all of Hood River, and a serious case of depression. Poor decisions combined with bad luck have dashed his hopes of a music education, and left him without the use of his legs. In fact, he’s in his wheelchair riding on the roadside when Alice knocks him into the ditch with her truck loaded with bees. Harry is in his early 20s. He’s also lonely, a drifter, a convict who has served his time, and he finds himself in Hood River, staying with his elderly uncle, trying to figure out how to pay back his mum for legal costs. The two young men end up working for Alice, and learn, along with the reader, all about bees and the work of beekeeping. Harry is terrified of the buzzing insects, but has a knack for carpentry and physics, and unexpectedly develops a passion for kiteboarding. Jake discovers he has a special affinity for bees, soon realizing he can “hear” a queen bee as Alice has never been able to, and starts to imagine life might be worth living after all. Alice offers them a small wage and a place to stay, and together they become a kind of oddball family. There’s a pesticide issue, some nastiness at the county planning office, and prejudice on several fronts, but the real story is in learning to look past whatever is on the outside to find the beauty inside. The bees are a metaphor for community – each of us has a role, and no one role is independent of the others, nor more important than any other. Without that acceptance and understanding, the community cannot thrive; conversely, by working together, threats can be overcome. This is one of my favourite books this year – I have been telling everyone about it, and even now I am still thinking about the characters and their worlds. I briefly considered getting a hive for my garden, then came to my proper senses. It’s a debut novel by Garvin, and I am looking forward to anything else she writes. My thanks to Dutton Books for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Grand Forks & District Public Library has a copy in its adult fiction collection, too, but you’ll have to request it!
More discussion and reviews of this novel: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55198935

Right book wrong time? I couldn't get into this one, but I'm sure its just my state of mind at the moment. Loved the synopsis and will table it for another read.

I’ve read several favorable reviews of this, so it must be more of a “me” problem. I did mot enjoy this and found it to be a bit trite. Maybe just an issue of timing!

This is just the sweetest story about human connection. The three main characters—a middle aged woman, a teenage boy confined to a wheelchair, and a twenty-something young man with a criminal record and nowhere to go—somehow find each other and work to grow a bee farm. It’s a heartwarming, inspiring and realistic novel. And I now know that the queen bee sings in G sharp.
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I almost passed on this book; so glad I didn’t. What an uplifting, feel good story…a testament to the power of healing, friendship, finding one’s self. An easy, light summer read.

Heartfelt story about three people struggling with various issues in their lives, who come together, find a bond, and rebuild their lives over honeybees.

Although it's a heartwarming story, I found myself bored at times. If you are interested in honeybees, you will definitely this more entertaining. I love the Pacific Northwest and Oregon is one of my favorites states, so I enjoyed the setting, but felt it lacking something more overall for me.

***Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy of this book!

What a beautiful debut novel! I absolutely loved this story. The three main characters were all beautifully written and I enjoyed following their journeys as they all crossed paths at a bee farm in Oregon. This was a wonderful, gripping story about the power of friendship and overcoming unthinkable obstacles. All of the information about bees was fascinating and I actually learned a lot along the way. Highly recommend this read!

Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

~4.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would! It was a heartwarming story with three very different characters who still all managed to fit together just right. They were all healing from different events and I think it was done really well and realistically. Being a beekeeper myself (with my husband) I loved all of the bee information scattered throughout as well. A great summer read!

When you need an uplifting read, grab this title!

Through a few twists of fate, Alice, a widowed 44-year-old, finds herself hiring two young adults to help her around her farm and with her beekeeping project. The unlikely friendship of the trio is strengthened through adversity, past mistakes, hurts, loves, and losses. I really enjoyed reading the ups and downs of this newly formed family. The beekeeping information was so fascinating and, although there were struggles and heartbreaks, this book was just an overall "feel-good" read and perfect for this time of year.

Thanks to NetGalley, Eileen Garvin, and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced eBook in exchange for my honest review.

The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin is a simply beautiful debut novel! I loved this story and especially grew fond of all of the characters. This is a touching story about grief, loss of all every kind, healing, forgiveness, acceptance, finding your own path, and ultimately friendship. 

The three main characters, their stories told by corresponding points of view, are unique and a trio of individuals you would never think would grow so attached. But these three people need each other while simultaneously having something to offer. 

With a little bit of humor and a whole lot of heart, The Music of Bees tells the story of how to overcome adversity and move forward in the face of tragedy, and pain. 

Thank you, NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and Eileen Garvin, for a copy of this book for review!

Heartwarming and heartfelt, this was a bee-utiful read. A recommended purchase for all general fiction collections.

What I loved: This is a very heartwarming and compelling story. I also felt like I learned a lot about beekeeping while reading this, and I appreciated the tidbits along the way. The story did a great job managing grief, mental health, loss, and growth. This story is truly about community, love, and found family.

What could have been a bit better: The beginning was a bit slow for me, but once I got into it, I felt like I really got to know the characters.

This was a lovely story about second chances, finding your path, and fighting for the environment.

I loved seeing how these characters - Alice, Jake, and Harry - came together and created a weird little family. It was also great to see them work together to support their town and it’s fight against corporate pesticides.

It was a very enjoyable book and I would definitely recommend for people who like a small town vibe and watching people right for it.

This beautiful book has all the buzz. Of the tiny pollinator variety and also the literary buzz worthy hype that a gem like this debut fully, and genuinely deserves. ⁣
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I love bees. My parents had hives on our farm growing up and I’ve always been so fascinated by them and it terrifies me to think of a world without them. ⁣
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It’s the bees that steal the show in this one. The beautiful, exquisite magic of bees.⁣
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Bees are the uniting force that brings together Alice, a grieving widow who raises honeybees, Harry, socially anxious and desperate for a job, and Jake, a paraplegic teen with a troubled home life. Bees bring them together and ultimately change all of their lives.⁣
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A sweet and heartwarming story - perfect for nature lovers - about starting over no matter how broken, second chances after devastating loss, and finding family where you least expect it. Oh, and of course - bees. ⁣

THE MUSIC OF BEES by debut author Eileen Garvin deserves to be on your "to be read" list, especially if you are looking for a "feel good" story. Forgive me, but this novel has received plenty of "buzz," including a LibraryReads selection for April and a starred review from Booklist which compared this quest for "belonging and stability" to writing by Anne Tyler or Sue Miller. Eileen Garvin, a beekeeper herself, definitely increased my interest in learning more about bees, including picking up our library copy of Paige Embry's Our native bees: America's endangered pollinators and the fight to save them. The characters in THE MUSIC OF BEES each face different challenges, but manage to form an unlikely bond. Alice is in her mid-forties, a widow redefining her priorities who essentially adopts two young men: Jake, now confined to a wheel chair after a foolish high school accident and Harry, a former felon with a serious self-confidence problem. Together, they work to expand an apiary for bees and fight a large pesticide company. A bit simplistic? Yes, but readers will enjoy growing with and rooting for these three and their friends and family.

Thank you to Netgalley & Eileen Garvin, for my copy of The Music of Bees, for an honest review. I admit I had an Arc of this book for sometime and I am not sure why I waited. What a wonderful story of persistence and second chances. 3 strangers find themselves in similar situations. Alice is stuck at a dead end job and a widow. Jack was a troubled boy, who made poor decisions & unfortunately became a paraplegic. Harry is a trouble, young adult and moves cross country to live with his great uncle. He is there only for 2 months when his uncle dies. Alice needs help with her bees and puts an add out and Harry finds his way to her house. He has secrets and he is always worried they will come out. Alice has Jake living in her home as well. His father is abusive and things aren’t working out for him there. He is learning to live his live in a wheelchair. All three are coming to grips with old hurts, new burdens and new friendships. This rag tag group makes up a family you pick, not one you are born into. The story is beautifully written. I always love an under dog story. Imperfect people coming together to make positive lives. Helping each other and themselves. Who new bees could become a character, in a book. Yet, they pull the whole story together. I read this in less than a day and it was a 4 star read for me. This story really made me smile and it made me think. I have recommended it on my Instagram page & reviewed on multiple sites. I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

I love getting lost in a story and this author is a great storyteller. The characters in this novel are unique and brought together by unusual circumstances! I grew to love our three main characters and how they came together and drew strength from each other.

Alice has been stuck in a job where she is not appreciated nor compensated for all of her hard work. Since her husband passed away she has found solace in beekeeping. What a wonderful world of bees she presents to the reader. I was entranced.

Jake is a teen who has lost not only the use of his legs in a freak accident, but also his love of life and sense of purpose. He is living unhappily with his parents. His mom is very supportive but his dad is clearly disappointed in him.

Harry is a 24 year old young man who doesn’t know what he wants from life and hasn’t been able to find a decent job. He has terrible social anxiety which doesn’t help his situation.

After a near collision on the road with Harry’s wheelchair, Alice invites Jake into her home. At first Jake wanted to stay with her to get away from his father, however he soon finds himself loving the apiary and the bees. He ends up being a great helper for Alice.

Harry answers an ad that Alice places for help and these three very different people are connected.

The descriptions of the beautiful apple orchards and rural Oregon were almost a character in themselves. I think I would love it there.

This novel is about fighting for what is right which is shown in Alice’s campaign against dangerous chemicals which are being sold to the orchard farmers but are killing the bees. Both Jake and Harry along with local beekeepers are able to stage a protest and eventually lead a fight against a powerful pesticide company that would ultimately destroy not only the bees habitat but the orchards . . . .no bees to pollinate, no apples!!!!!!!!!!

There is friendship, loyalty and the joy of finding a way to start over in life in this novel. I enjoyed it immensely.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

Sweet and heartwarming story illustrating the healing power of friendship and family that’s chosen. Alice is a 44 year old widow who raises bees on a farm in Oregon while also working for the Town Planning. Jake is an 18 year old who recently became a parapalegic and Harry is a 24 year old former felon who is homeless. These three misfits paths cross as each of them are struggling with inner demons including anxiety, grief and past regrets. They come together, united in caring for the bees and supporting each other. Each is able to move forward with their own healing and second chances. An added bonus was learning about beekeeping and bees and their invaluable role they play in our environment.

A lovely read about unexpected friendships and healing. I enjoyed how it explored the themes of anxiety and grief and making connections with people of various ages.

Thank you to Dutton Books for gifting me this beautiful book!

Genre: Fiction
Pub Date: 4.27.21
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“Sorrow released a person from common constraints, and in their grief, they could be their, true, bald selves. If others chose to witness that, to truly see others, well, it would change everything.”

There were countless lessons nestled within the pages of this book - on life, forgiveness, grief, and bees. While reading, I constantly stopped to tell my husband something that I had learned in the book and his response was “you must love this story because you keep interrupting your reading to tell me about it”. Yes.. yes, I did love it.

- All the bee information was fascinating and fun to learn.
- Lessons about protecting our environment and our wildlife.
- Three incredible, unforgettable characters (okay, four if you include the dog).
- Left me feeling encouraged to make a change and stand up for what’s right.
- Get your tissues out because of that ending... well, it gave me all the feels.

If you don’t have this book on your reading list, please add it. It’s a story that will stay with me for a long time and also gave me a great appreciation for the little honeybees buzzing around my backyard this morning.