The Music of Bees by Eileen Garvin

The Music of Bees My Rating: 4.8

Three lonely strangers in a rural Oregon town, each working through grief and life's curveballs, who are brought together by happenstance on a local honeybee farm where they find surprising friendship, healing--and maybe even a second chance--just when they least expect it.

Forty-four-year-old Alice feels stuck - trapped in a dead-end job, grieving the sudden loss of her husband, and struggling with the reality that her life hasn’t unfolded the way she once imagined. Even her beloved honeybees, which once brought her comfort, no longer seem to help.

In the middle of a panic attack, Alice nearly collides with Jake - a troubled paraplegic teenager with the tallest mohawk in Hood River County - while transporting 120,000 honeybees in the back of her pickup truck. Drawn to his genuine curiosity and wanting to help him escape a toxic home environment, Alice impulsively invites him to spend time at her farm.

Then there’s Harry, a twenty-four-year-old battling debilitating social anxiety, desperate for work and connection. When he responds to Alice’s ad for part-time help, he’s surprised to be hired—and even more surprised by the bond that begins to form.

I really enjoyed this book - the characters were engaging, and I loved learning about how bees live and how their hives function. The discussion around pesticides was eye-opening, and I appreciated that it was handled in a way that didn’t feel preachy (I actually looked it up afterward and was surprised!). Definitely recommend.