Bees have always been more of a nuisance than cool creature to me, but this book has helped change my perspective and foster respect for these surprisingly organized and female-oriented species. All hail the Queen of the Bees!

I’ve been reading a lot of intense (but good!) books lately, so this charmer was like a ray of sunshine. Plus, it organically incorporated some truly cool and eye-opening facts about bees (author Garvin is a beekeeper). Here’s a short synopsis courtesy of the publisher:

I adored this book! Alice is a middle-aged woman who’s lost her parents and husband, but has found a measure of solace in beekeeping. Yet, she’s still mostly alone. When she almost ends up hitting a mohawked boy in a wheelchair on the side of the road, her life truly starts to change. The boy, Jake, has his own wounds. After a fall at a party, Jake has to learn how to live his life as a paraplegic. His angry, volatile father further affects Jake’s sense of self, family, and coping with his new reality. Recruited by Alice to help at her farm with her beehives, Jake seems to find the purpose and place his life’s been lacking. Harry, another young man who’s emotionally damaged and lost, also ends up at Alice’s farm. The friendships forged between this trio form the emotional core of the book. While the specific character narratives and the environmental storyline about harmful pesticides doing serious damage to the orchards and bee populations do speak to serious issues—it’s ultimately a story about love. This sweet and heartwarming story reminds us that, like real life, love, friendship, and forgiveness have the ability to soothe the emotional wounds of tragedy and the challenges of life. It’s also a love letter to bees and the invaluable place they have in the life cycle of our environment.

If you’re looking for a bookish pick-me-up or just a charming story that reminds us how humanity can heal, this is the book for you.

Much thanks to @NetGalley and @DuttonBooks for the free eBook in exchange for an honest review.