Thank you so much to HCCP & HCF Audio, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for this ALC of Bees in June.

This was phenomenal! I have never read anything quite like this before. The pacing was perfect. It is such a cool idea to have one of the POVs be from the bees. Their input really had me guessing at what would happen next. This was also such an emotional story. I was rooting for Rennie to be free from her abusive husband the whole time. I love that she found her strength as the story progressed. I would give this more than 5 stars if I could.

This was my first book by Elizabeth Bass Parman, and I really look forward to reading more by her.

I listened to the audiobook and was pleasantly surprised to see one the narrators was Brittany Pressley. She always does a great job. The two male narrators were good as well.

Bees in June is a luminous blend of small-town Southern fiction and magical realism, set in Tennessee in the summer of 1969. Rennie Hendricks’ return home becomes a season of unexpected change, shaped by her deep bond with her Uncle Dixon and the mysterious appearance of glowing bees. Parman’s prose captures the languid warmth of a Southern summer while exploring resilience, connection, and the quiet magic that can emerge from life’s most challenging seasons.

The ALC audiobook is led by Brittany Pressley, whose warm, expressive narration perfectly captures Rennie’s perspective. Michael Crouch and Seth Podowitz voice secondary characters, adding variety and texture without distracting from the central narrative. Subtle production choices enhance the sense of place and emotion, making the listening experience immersive. While the story is ultimately hopeful, depictions of domestic violence are intense and may be difficult for some listeners, though they are handled with care and authenticity.

With its vivid setting, memorable characters, and touch of wonder, Bees in June is an affecting, atmospheric listen that lingers well after the final track.


Thanks to NetGalley and HCCP & HCF Audio | Harper Muse for this ALC . This is my honest review .

This was a surprising read. It’s not my go-to AT ALL but something spoke to me about it and a voice actor I enjoy, usually for middle grade fiction, was listed as a narrator so I scooped it up.

The book was very well written and took you on an emotional rollercoaster. Who knew I would care about bees so much by the end!

It had multi cast narration by Brittany Pressley, Michael Crouch, and Seth Podowitz. While he was appropriately cast for the roles he took on, I’ve never heard Michael Crouch in anything other dedication Middle grade or YA fiction so it was a nice change of pace. All three actors did a fine job with the material and spoke at great paces for the 1x speed. Ms Pressley did a fabulous job voicing the many characters in her chapters as well as the male voices. I commend her for her skill especially coming off another book that disheartened me a bit (not that she did). Crouch and Podowitzes chapters were duel narrated and were very effective. I won’t give more specifics as it would serve as a spoiler.

So, overall I enjoyed this book and o think it’s going to be a hit for the bookclub set as well as for the “celebrity “bookclub” “ lists if they get their hands on it.

It comes out September 2nd… I feel like it missed the mark to not be marketed and released in June but, it’s all good! Feel good read for the start of school!

I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harper Focus through NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.