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The Hive
There's only room for one Queen A hilarious and touching novel about the social world of school mothers.
It's the start of another school year at St. Ambrose. While the children are busy in the classroom, their mothers are learning sharper lessons. Lessons in friendship. Lessons in betrayal. Lessons in the laws of community, the transience of power...and how to get invited to lunch.
Beatrice -- undisputed queen bee. Ruler, by Divine Right, of all school fundraising, this year, last year, and, surely, for many to come.
Heather -- desperate to volunteer, desperate to be noticed, desperate to belong.
Georgie -- desperate for a cigarette.
And Rachel -- watching them all, keeping her distance. But soon to discover taht the line between amused observer and miserable outcast is a thin one.
The Hive is a wickedly funny and brilliantly observed story about female friendship, power plays, and the joys and perils (well, mainly perils) of trying to do one's part.
It's the start of another school year at St. Ambrose. While the children are busy in the classroom, their mothers are learning sharper lessons. Lessons in friendship. Lessons in betrayal. Lessons in the laws of community, the transience of power...and how to get invited to lunch.
Beatrice -- undisputed queen bee. Ruler, by Divine Right, of all school fundraising, this year, last year, and, surely, for many to come.
Heather -- desperate to volunteer, desperate to be noticed, desperate to belong.
Georgie -- desperate for a cigarette.
And Rachel -- watching them all, keeping her distance. But soon to discover taht the line between amused observer and miserable outcast is a thin one.
The Hive is a wickedly funny and brilliantly observed story about female friendship, power plays, and the joys and perils (well, mainly perils) of trying to do one's part.
343 pages, Hardcover
First published May 23, 2013
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2059 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 420 reviews
July 13, 2013
Wow, I just hated this so much. It was painfully slow and the dialogue was excruciating. There were so many characters and none of them convincing. Also the plot, such as it was, wandered all over the place. I thought the concept had possibilities, but the plot was so disjointed and lacking in pace that the eventual dethroning of the Queen Bee was a complete anti-climax. Technically I thought there were issues too - for example a few instances where characters just started talking although they hadn't previously been in the scene and so many shifting points of view I couldn't be bothered keeping track. It's so depressing there was a bidding war over a book this bad.
September 17, 2025
On its face, The Hive sounds like a blatant play for the attentions of moderately vapid female readers, the type of women who sent Fifty Shades of Grey to the top of the NYT bestseller list. (I say this judgily, but I actually read all three FSOG books). And to some degree, The Hive very much is that book. It's about petty arguments and frivolous conflicts and a cadre of women whose lives revolve entirely around their children and one another (and one-another's children). Some of the conversations in The Hive are even cringe-worthy, particularly if you're a 20-something female who aspires to never sit around a coffee shop discussing your friend's sister's daughter's fifth-grade test scores.
But what makes The Hive tolerable/special/good is exactly what is implied by analogizing it to Mean Girls (both The Hive and Mean Girls are loosely based on the same advice book.) Hornby knows these things—and these women—are ridiculous, and knows that this particular brand of ridiculousness only seems to emerges when one pops miniature humans out of one’s lady parts. And while much of The Hive feels like parody, or at the very least exaggeration, Hornby does highlight how the very school-based communities intended to elevate the experience of students also breed a special brand of adult one-upmanship.
But what makes The Hive tolerable/special/good is exactly what is implied by analogizing it to Mean Girls (both The Hive and Mean Girls are loosely based on the same advice book.) Hornby knows these things—and these women—are ridiculous, and knows that this particular brand of ridiculousness only seems to emerges when one pops miniature humans out of one’s lady parts. And while much of The Hive feels like parody, or at the very least exaggeration, Hornby does highlight how the very school-based communities intended to elevate the experience of students also breed a special brand of adult one-upmanship.
March 31, 2025
DNF
I just really fucking hate this and now I'm really tired
I just really fucking hate this and now I'm really tired
August 13, 2016
This is a semi-satirical novel about mums at a small primary school and about the way they revolve around the "queen bee" who runs the fundraising committee. We focus on a core group of 5 or 6 mums who all have their own place in the social standing: inside the clique, desperate to join the clique or immune to the clique. The story follows a school year as they go through their own individual dramas and the pecking order at school gets shuffled.
If anyone should have liked this book, it would be me, because I am highly involved in my children's primary school. I also think that it's a topic that's crying out for a novel. There was a recent article in Boston Magazine entitled "The Terrifyingly Nasty, Backstabbing, and Altogether Miserable World of the Suburban Mom" (you can find it on line) which shows how real and hurtful these kind of dramas are. But this book just doesn't work. We don't care about any of the characters, we don't explore any feelings in depth and the "queen bee" is so simplistically lazy and selfish that it's virtually impossible to believe that everyone wouldn't see through her.
Plus the "bee" metaphors drove me crazy. The analogy is clever but it gets rammed home again and again. Naming characters like Bea and Clover and Heather. Naming the school after the patron saint of bees. Frequent lectures from Rachel's Mum about how beehives work. Enough! I get it!
While there are amusing moments here and there, it's overall a tedious read. A friend described it to me as like "Fifty Shades of Grey without the sex".
If anyone should have liked this book, it would be me, because I am highly involved in my children's primary school. I also think that it's a topic that's crying out for a novel. There was a recent article in Boston Magazine entitled "The Terrifyingly Nasty, Backstabbing, and Altogether Miserable World of the Suburban Mom" (you can find it on line) which shows how real and hurtful these kind of dramas are. But this book just doesn't work. We don't care about any of the characters, we don't explore any feelings in depth and the "queen bee" is so simplistically lazy and selfish that it's virtually impossible to believe that everyone wouldn't see through her.
Plus the "bee" metaphors drove me crazy. The analogy is clever but it gets rammed home again and again. Naming characters like Bea and Clover and Heather. Naming the school after the patron saint of bees. Frequent lectures from Rachel's Mum about how beehives work. Enough! I get it!
While there are amusing moments here and there, it's overall a tedious read. A friend described it to me as like "Fifty Shades of Grey without the sex".
August 30, 2013
This book was dull and the characters were 2-dimensional and unappealing. I only read it for a book group, otherwise I would never even have bought it. It's pretty obvious from the first few pages that it's a dud. I did wonder if something was suddenly going happen after a while, but alas no. Attempts at humour mis-fire. The potentially clever device of using the minutes of the meetings of the school committee were laboured and in the end only added to the disappointment of the reading experience. The book seems to have garnered a fair few good reviews and I am at a loss as to why. Save yourself some money and time by giving this one a wide body-swerve.
August 27, 2013
Review of "The Hive" by Gill Hornby
Expected Publication: September 10, 2013 by Little, Brown and Co
On the surface this novel looks like another portrait of the lifestyles of the rich and bored, but what Hornby has actually written is a clever satire about mothers, daughters, and the cliques they share (even when they're old enough to know better). Pleasantly surprising in its intelligence, this novel manages to take Mean Girls into the mother's world in a way that's both realistic and funny. With characters you'll love (and some you'll love to hate) and just a dash of drama and romance thrown in Hornby's "The Hive" is a light read that will make you wonder whether or not there's hope for any of us to really "grow up."
As the title suggests, Hornby's novel centers around both a hive of women and a hive of bees. The metaphor is a little heavy-handed but that just adds to the obvious satire Hornby is trying to convey. The story is told through multiple perspectives, the main character/narrator is, for the majority of the story, Rachel. Rachel's husband Chris has just left her for an intern at his office, and after her marriage has fallen apart her social life starts to fall apart as well. You see, Rachel is best friends with Bea (pun intended) the social queen of the St. Ambrose parents, but once Rachel becomes less than perfect, Bea becomes less than present. Now Rachel has to find a new group and during the process begins to see just what kind of collective she's been a part of for all those years. And if that's not enough, dashing new headmaster Tom adds an element of romance to Rachel's life just to complicate things more.
In addition to Rachel there are several other characters worth mentioning. Georgie, the smoker who doesn't actually smoke with a large family and a no bullshit attitude. Heather, the mother who's desperate to please Bea, whatever the cost. And Melissa, the charming new mom with a big house and ideas that put Bea's to shame.
As the story continues it becomes fairly obvious just how this group of mom's mimics the hive, and as Melissa rushes in to save the day she starts to gain allies while Bea is out working her MUJ. The satire aspect of the novel becomes almost paradoy-ish by the last few chapters though, and while it was funny, the tone changed a little too abruptly for them to fit in with the rest of the novel. While the ending was appropriate and leaves you with questions, the shift in tone was a little jarring and completely lost the reality Hornby cultivated in the rest of the book.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
Expected Publication: September 10, 2013 by Little, Brown and Co
On the surface this novel looks like another portrait of the lifestyles of the rich and bored, but what Hornby has actually written is a clever satire about mothers, daughters, and the cliques they share (even when they're old enough to know better). Pleasantly surprising in its intelligence, this novel manages to take Mean Girls into the mother's world in a way that's both realistic and funny. With characters you'll love (and some you'll love to hate) and just a dash of drama and romance thrown in Hornby's "The Hive" is a light read that will make you wonder whether or not there's hope for any of us to really "grow up."
As the title suggests, Hornby's novel centers around both a hive of women and a hive of bees. The metaphor is a little heavy-handed but that just adds to the obvious satire Hornby is trying to convey. The story is told through multiple perspectives, the main character/narrator is, for the majority of the story, Rachel. Rachel's husband Chris has just left her for an intern at his office, and after her marriage has fallen apart her social life starts to fall apart as well. You see, Rachel is best friends with Bea (pun intended) the social queen of the St. Ambrose parents, but once Rachel becomes less than perfect, Bea becomes less than present. Now Rachel has to find a new group and during the process begins to see just what kind of collective she's been a part of for all those years. And if that's not enough, dashing new headmaster Tom adds an element of romance to Rachel's life just to complicate things more.
In addition to Rachel there are several other characters worth mentioning. Georgie, the smoker who doesn't actually smoke with a large family and a no bullshit attitude. Heather, the mother who's desperate to please Bea, whatever the cost. And Melissa, the charming new mom with a big house and ideas that put Bea's to shame.
As the story continues it becomes fairly obvious just how this group of mom's mimics the hive, and as Melissa rushes in to save the day she starts to gain allies while Bea is out working her MUJ. The satire aspect of the novel becomes almost paradoy-ish by the last few chapters though, and while it was funny, the tone changed a little too abruptly for them to fit in with the rest of the novel. While the ending was appropriate and leaves you with questions, the shift in tone was a little jarring and completely lost the reality Hornby cultivated in the rest of the book.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
August 3, 2013
I really dislike this book. It is riddled with deeply unsympathetic and truly nasty characters one of whom is so hideous she defies belief and certainly had me hoping that I would never meet anyone like her at the school gates. Anyway, I raced through this book - not because I enjoyed it - but because it was dire and I couldn't wait to put it down and never pick it up again. I look forward to the conversation my book group will be having about it - it's bound to cause an argument!
August 22, 2022
Me lo compré hace años por su comparativa con la serie de Mujeres Desesperadas (que me encantaba) pero no me ha convencido. Me ha gustado el paralelismo del funcionamiento de una colmena y las actuaciones de las diferentes Mujeres pero se me ha quedado una lectura bastante plana. Le ha faltado emoción, intensidad y una trama algo más activa. Entretenida sin más.
September 13, 2016
Mean Girls if you aged the cast 20 years, gave them kids and set the action in the English home counties. 4 stars.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
The Hive is funny, well-observed and strikes a good balance between its comic and more serious moments. The story is told in close third person through several characters’ POVs. These are well differentiated and so the viewpoint switching is never confusing. It also gives the author the chance to present several different experiences of motherhood, and readers with kids will recognise and/or empathise with several of the women’s thoughts.
The narrative moves along at a good pace with the school year providing a strong chronological framework for events. My edition (the hardback) had 300 pages and that felt a good length, any more and I think it would have stretched itself too thin.
When I first finished the book, I wondered a lot about whether it was a 5-star read. It made me laugh a lot and the ending is rather fuzzy, leaving you with a happy glow. Then I realised: if I had to think so much about whether it was a 5-star book for me, then it wasn’t. So now I have to come up with reasons why it’s not…
I have a few niggles. Firstly, there’s a running joke regarding the way one of the characters insists her son is Gifted and Talented when this clearly isn’t the case. It made me a little uneasy because at times it felt as though the joke was at the expense of a kid with special educational needs (although I’m sure this was never the intention). I would also have liked one chapter or even just a scene told from the POV of the “villain” of the piece. Villains are people too, and it would have been great to have further insight into what lay behind her behaviour other than, “she has to be this way for plot reasons”.
Finally, I felt the metaphor of the hive was laid on a bit thick. It was almost as if the author and/or editors were worried readers wouldn’t get it and so repeatedly highlighted the parallels between the behaviour of the female characters and the bees. But it’s not that hard a concept to grasp; it could have been mentioned once or twice and then left alone.
Overall: quibbles aside, I enjoyed The Hive very much and laughed out loud more than once. Recommended if you enjoy the nuances of female group politics. Or Mean Girls. If you liked that movie but left high school a good while ago, check this out.
This review was originally posted on my book blog.
The Hive is funny, well-observed and strikes a good balance between its comic and more serious moments. The story is told in close third person through several characters’ POVs. These are well differentiated and so the viewpoint switching is never confusing. It also gives the author the chance to present several different experiences of motherhood, and readers with kids will recognise and/or empathise with several of the women’s thoughts.
The narrative moves along at a good pace with the school year providing a strong chronological framework for events. My edition (the hardback) had 300 pages and that felt a good length, any more and I think it would have stretched itself too thin.
When I first finished the book, I wondered a lot about whether it was a 5-star read. It made me laugh a lot and the ending is rather fuzzy, leaving you with a happy glow. Then I realised: if I had to think so much about whether it was a 5-star book for me, then it wasn’t. So now I have to come up with reasons why it’s not…
I have a few niggles. Firstly, there’s a running joke regarding the way one of the characters insists her son is Gifted and Talented when this clearly isn’t the case. It made me a little uneasy because at times it felt as though the joke was at the expense of a kid with special educational needs (although I’m sure this was never the intention). I would also have liked one chapter or even just a scene told from the POV of the “villain” of the piece. Villains are people too, and it would have been great to have further insight into what lay behind her behaviour other than, “she has to be this way for plot reasons”.
Finally, I felt the metaphor of the hive was laid on a bit thick. It was almost as if the author and/or editors were worried readers wouldn’t get it and so repeatedly highlighted the parallels between the behaviour of the female characters and the bees. But it’s not that hard a concept to grasp; it could have been mentioned once or twice and then left alone.
Overall: quibbles aside, I enjoyed The Hive very much and laughed out loud more than once. Recommended if you enjoy the nuances of female group politics. Or Mean Girls. If you liked that movie but left high school a good while ago, check this out.
November 22, 2019
Abban a hitben voltam, hogy ez egy szatirikus, humoros könyv, némi drámával, felfordulással, egy iskolai környezetben, szülői munkaközösséggel, áskálódással, pletykákkal stb. Ami egy hullajó recept lenne! Szerettem a Hová tűntél, Bernadette? ezen oldalát is, vagy a Hatalmas kis hazugságokban a hasonló témákat.
Ettől a könyvtől viszont semmit nem kaptam, lapos volt és unalmas, a karakterek felcserélhetők szinte, nincs egy épkézláb emlékezetes jelenet. Csak végigrobogunk egy tanéven, ahol hol egyik, hol másik anyuka tart valami tea/coffee/garden party/luch rendezvényt, meg fundraising committee ülések vannak, teljesen érdektelen beszélgetésekkel. A férjek és a gyerekek mindenütt csak kellékek, és mindenki kurvára ráér, sőt unatkozik!!! Életszerűtlen ebből a szempontból... A manipulációk, áskálódások azok életszerűek, de teljesen laposan van az is előadva. Ahol drámát próbál belecsempészni, megfeneklik, nem tud írni róla, nincs kifejtve, nem okoz törést.
Alig vártam, hogy vége legyen, és hátha a végén majd lesz valami izgi, de nem.
Ettől a könyvtől viszont semmit nem kaptam, lapos volt és unalmas, a karakterek felcserélhetők szinte, nincs egy épkézláb emlékezetes jelenet. Csak végigrobogunk egy tanéven, ahol hol egyik, hol másik anyuka tart valami tea/coffee/garden party/luch rendezvényt, meg fundraising committee ülések vannak, teljesen érdektelen beszélgetésekkel. A férjek és a gyerekek mindenütt csak kellékek, és mindenki kurvára ráér, sőt unatkozik!!! Életszerűtlen ebből a szempontból... A manipulációk, áskálódások azok életszerűek, de teljesen laposan van az is előadva. Ahol drámát próbál belecsempészni, megfeneklik, nem tud írni róla, nincs kifejtve, nem okoz törést.
Alig vártam, hogy vége legyen, és hátha a végén majd lesz valami izgi, de nem.
April 7, 2013
Una apis, nulla apis. One bee is no bee.
This is a very clever look at playground politics among those yummy mummies at the school gate. The girls who ruled their schools are now mothers, and they are relishing being back in a catty, cliquey world where everything is a competition and your hair can never be too blonde.
To be honest, I found a lot of this book completely terrifying - high school was bad enough, please don't tell me I'll have to go through it all over again if I have kids! - but at the same time it was intelligent and totally hilarious. I've definitely known plenty of people who will do absolutely anything to fit in, and it makes me appreciate and admire those who are happy to stand out! I hope everyone knows a Rachel - the friend you have that makes everything bearable.
** disclosure: I work for the publisher & had early access to this title **
This is a very clever look at playground politics among those yummy mummies at the school gate. The girls who ruled their schools are now mothers, and they are relishing being back in a catty, cliquey world where everything is a competition and your hair can never be too blonde.
To be honest, I found a lot of this book completely terrifying - high school was bad enough, please don't tell me I'll have to go through it all over again if I have kids! - but at the same time it was intelligent and totally hilarious. I've definitely known plenty of people who will do absolutely anything to fit in, and it makes me appreciate and admire those who are happy to stand out! I hope everyone knows a Rachel - the friend you have that makes everything bearable.
** disclosure: I work for the publisher & had early access to this title **
January 1, 2015
Such a disappointing book. The premise had potential but the execution was so poor that it was painful. Some parts were lacked so much detail that it was hard to feel connected to the story. Other parts were so detailed and unrelated to the core of the story that the reader wonders what the heck is going on. And then by the end of the book the author is obviously so bored of her own book that she skips the best part and our last 3 page chapter reveals everything she needed to convey but couldn't be bothered to. I don't usually finish a book I don't like but I needed to find out how it would end. Sadly I can't get the time back.
February 22, 2016
This was not a good book. Far too many undeveloped characters. I lost track of who was who. Silly women with silly names acting like idiots.
The comparison between a school full of mothers and a hive of bees was terribly unsubtle even to the point of giving the main controlling character the name Bea. It was also hammered home every now and again by way of someone keeping bees and imparting information on how they thrive.
Although it was an easy read there were times when sentence structure was just clunky and jarring.
How this became a Waterstones Book Club book I'll never know.
Give it a miss.
The comparison between a school full of mothers and a hive of bees was terribly unsubtle even to the point of giving the main controlling character the name Bea. It was also hammered home every now and again by way of someone keeping bees and imparting information on how they thrive.
Although it was an easy read there were times when sentence structure was just clunky and jarring.
How this became a Waterstones Book Club book I'll never know.
Give it a miss.
August 2, 2013
That is several hours of my life I will never get back! I liked the concept of this book women behaving like bee's. However, the characters were over exaggerated and just not in anyway believable. Mildly amusing at points but generally utter guff!
May 21, 2022
Thank god its finished
January 10, 2020
I received this book from Goodreads giveaway. The description stated that this book was wickedly funny. Maybe in England it's funny but I think I only slightly laughed once today as I got almost half way through with this book. I thought the character's were snobbish and very unlikable some even had horrible attitudes about their children. I find nothing funny about divorce, suicide and fake women. Plus I detest swearing & there was way, way too much swearing! I feel an author's vocabulary should include words that are not so offensive...especially a book that's geared towards women. Please authors, find better language to use as you write your novels.
November 8, 2014
Rather predictable, characters are two dimensional caricatures of 'school mums'' we all know, . Overall a bit of a disappointment i'm afraid
October 12, 2016
Actually I didn't finish it, I abandoned it. Perhaps I've left the school gate behind too long ago, but these mums didn't resemble any I knew. I found the book silly and pointless.
January 23, 2020
This is almost certainly the worst novel I have read for some time. Clunkey plot, obvious metaphors, unrealised characters, contrived structure.....I could go on
March 22, 2016
Not really my cup of tea - but I did laugh myself silly at the quiz towards the end
April 12, 2025
Thank goodness most of GR agrees with me and this book has such a low average rating.
One of the most boring and pointless books I have ever read.
You literally finish it and have no idea what the whole non-story and characters or even the point of nearly 9 hours of audio actually was.
And it wasn’t even interesting realism or any good character development anyway.
I think we rather need a happy song to forget a book you can hardly remember much of anyway it so dreadful.
https://youtu.be/KapHTsjh_Nw?si=UMYUC...
One of the most boring and pointless books I have ever read.
You literally finish it and have no idea what the whole non-story and characters or even the point of nearly 9 hours of audio actually was.
And it wasn’t even interesting realism or any good character development anyway.
I think we rather need a happy song to forget a book you can hardly remember much of anyway it so dreadful.
https://youtu.be/KapHTsjh_Nw?si=UMYUC...
July 9, 2025
A perfect book for women who hate women. In a lot of places where I worked most colleagues were men, and men can be just as petty and backstabbing as the women portrayed in this poorly written novel. If you think women are inferior to men, by all means read.
I stopped after about a third, so many between that and the last pages (which I read) the men were petty and the women kind and courageous, but I didn't think it worth my time to find out.
I stopped after about a third, so many between that and the last pages (which I read) the men were petty and the women kind and courageous, but I didn't think it worth my time to find out.
November 15, 2020
Predictable. It's a story you've heard one too many times; women who still behave like high school mean girls, and of course it all takes place on the school playground. Fortunately, mothers are not this petty or competitive in rea life.
October 7, 2022
Easy read but rather disappointing.
Some witty jokes and some relatable characters.
However, multiple weak storylines and too many weak characters to really keep track of what was going on. Also poor grammar, too much quick shifting of narrative and confusing anecdotes that even google couldn’t untangle.
Some witty jokes and some relatable characters.
However, multiple weak storylines and too many weak characters to really keep track of what was going on. Also poor grammar, too much quick shifting of narrative and confusing anecdotes that even google couldn’t untangle.
February 27, 2019
Nothing happens. The couple of instances where something interesting develops it is resolved in less than 10 pages.
April 24, 2018
It took me about half the book to get into the story. I quite enjoyed the second half and started getting used to the many different characters. Still not a book I would recommend, sad to say, even though I very much liked the ending.
August 23, 2014
Synopsis:
Welcome to St Ambrose Primary School.
A world of friendships, fights and feuding. And that's just the mothers. It's the start of another school year at St Ambrose.
But while the children are in the classroom colouring in, their mothers are learning sharper lessons on the other side of the school gates.
Lessons in friendship. Lessons in betrayal. Lessons in the laws of community, the transience of power...and how to get invited to lunch.
Beatrice - undisputed queen bee. Ruler, by Divine Right, of all school fund-raising, this year, last year and, surely, for many years to come.
Heather - desperate to volunteer, desperate to be noticed, desperate just to belong. Georgie - desperate for a fag.
And Rachel - watching them all, keeping her distance. But soon to discover that the line between amused observer and miserable outcast is a thin one.
The Hive is an irresistible, brilliantly observed novel - warm, witty and true. Wickedly funny, it is also a fascinating and subtle story about group politics and female friendship. From the joys and perils (well, mainly perils) of the Lunch Ladder, to the military operation that is the Car Boot Sale, via the dos and don'ts of dressing your child as a dalek, all human life is here.
Cover:
I like the cover design, even though it might a bit too busy. When you look closely at it, you can discover high heels and teacups in the image.
Title:
The Hive is definitely a great title. It fits perfectly because the story is very sharp!
Writing style:
The book is written from the third person point of view, mostly featuring Rachel (at least, that's the feeling I had) but also the other protagonists. I often had to think of Desperate Housewives and Suburgatory because of the atmosphere in this story. Between the chapters, there were also some meeting protocols from school.
Characters:
There is a group of parents in this book and the story takes place during one school year.
We have Rachel, who wants to stay out of everything. She is happy watching everything from the distance. In contrast to Heather, who desperately wants to be accepted. Specially by Beatrice, who is something like the queen bee. She is very popular and has a talent to let other people work for her. Last but not least there is Georgie. She seems to be quit disinterested and only wants to be left alone.
Noteworthy:
The book is definitely chicklit! Sometimes you get the feeling that plot is exaggerated, but that's totally okay in this genre.
Stuck in my Head:
„She was looking wildly around. Bea - Bubba just happened to notice - was standing in the corner watching them all. Wearing a secret, knowing sort of smile.“ (S. 184)
What I didn't like:
Nothing to complain. Well, maybe a little bit character development would have been good. Don't get me wrong, I liked the characters, but they weren't something new.
Quick and dirty:
A funny novel which made made me laugh a lot of times! Perfect for fans of Desperate Housewives and Suburgatory. I would recommend it to everyone who is into British humour!
Welcome to St Ambrose Primary School.
A world of friendships, fights and feuding. And that's just the mothers. It's the start of another school year at St Ambrose.
But while the children are in the classroom colouring in, their mothers are learning sharper lessons on the other side of the school gates.
Lessons in friendship. Lessons in betrayal. Lessons in the laws of community, the transience of power...and how to get invited to lunch.
Beatrice - undisputed queen bee. Ruler, by Divine Right, of all school fund-raising, this year, last year and, surely, for many years to come.
Heather - desperate to volunteer, desperate to be noticed, desperate just to belong. Georgie - desperate for a fag.
And Rachel - watching them all, keeping her distance. But soon to discover that the line between amused observer and miserable outcast is a thin one.
The Hive is an irresistible, brilliantly observed novel - warm, witty and true. Wickedly funny, it is also a fascinating and subtle story about group politics and female friendship. From the joys and perils (well, mainly perils) of the Lunch Ladder, to the military operation that is the Car Boot Sale, via the dos and don'ts of dressing your child as a dalek, all human life is here.
Cover:
I like the cover design, even though it might a bit too busy. When you look closely at it, you can discover high heels and teacups in the image.
Title:
The Hive is definitely a great title. It fits perfectly because the story is very sharp!
Writing style:
The book is written from the third person point of view, mostly featuring Rachel (at least, that's the feeling I had) but also the other protagonists. I often had to think of Desperate Housewives and Suburgatory because of the atmosphere in this story. Between the chapters, there were also some meeting protocols from school.
Characters:
There is a group of parents in this book and the story takes place during one school year.
We have Rachel, who wants to stay out of everything. She is happy watching everything from the distance. In contrast to Heather, who desperately wants to be accepted. Specially by Beatrice, who is something like the queen bee. She is very popular and has a talent to let other people work for her. Last but not least there is Georgie. She seems to be quit disinterested and only wants to be left alone.
Noteworthy:
The book is definitely chicklit! Sometimes you get the feeling that plot is exaggerated, but that's totally okay in this genre.
Stuck in my Head:
„She was looking wildly around. Bea - Bubba just happened to notice - was standing in the corner watching them all. Wearing a secret, knowing sort of smile.“ (S. 184)
What I didn't like:
Nothing to complain. Well, maybe a little bit character development would have been good. Don't get me wrong, I liked the characters, but they weren't something new.
Quick and dirty:
A funny novel which made made me laugh a lot of times! Perfect for fans of Desperate Housewives and Suburgatory. I would recommend it to everyone who is into British humour!
October 3, 2013
The Hive is the debut novel by Gill Hornby who, incidentally, is the sister of best selling British novelist Nick Hornby. It comes much-hyped as the subject of a fierce bidding war between publishers. The novel's name is a reference to a bee hive and the story is driven by the doings of the mothers of St Ambrose Primary School who are ruled by their aptly named queen, Bea.
The action is divided up into school terms and centers around the fundraising activities for a new school library. Bitchiness, infighting and power plays abound, heightened by the arrival of a potential new contender for queen bee. The daily gatherings at the school gate are an opportunity to discover who's in and who's out of Bea's favour. Didn’t get a text inviting you to morning Pilates? Well, sorry dear, you’re out. If it sounds like Mean Girls for adults, that's because it is. Hornby based the book on the same advice manual, Queen Bees and Wannabes, which inspired that movie.
While The Hive was amusing, there were so many characters that none of them really developed much depth. Rachel has been unceremoniously dumped as Bea's best friend. Heather is working hard to access the inner circle. Bubba is on a career break from a big job in the city, and on it goes. While Rachel was the main point of view character, I didn't find her especially likable or interesting, so that detracted somewhat from the book’s appeal.
Nonetheless, a car boot sale, a disastrous ball, a quiz night and a series of fundraising lunches offer entertaining vignettes of the women in action. I especially enjoyed the minutes of the fundraising committee meetings. They were enough to scare anyone off joining a P and C. Darker notes are struck when suicide and cancer enter the story but due to lack of engagement with the characters they fall a little flat. A spunky new school principal sets the cat among the pigeons and provides a romantic interest.
Overall, The Hive seems somehow less than the sum of its parts. It was a lightweight and enjoyable social comedy that had a lot of potential, but for me didn't quite hit the mark. Still, those with an interest in schoolyard politics will certainly find something to enjoy.
The action is divided up into school terms and centers around the fundraising activities for a new school library. Bitchiness, infighting and power plays abound, heightened by the arrival of a potential new contender for queen bee. The daily gatherings at the school gate are an opportunity to discover who's in and who's out of Bea's favour. Didn’t get a text inviting you to morning Pilates? Well, sorry dear, you’re out. If it sounds like Mean Girls for adults, that's because it is. Hornby based the book on the same advice manual, Queen Bees and Wannabes, which inspired that movie.
While The Hive was amusing, there were so many characters that none of them really developed much depth. Rachel has been unceremoniously dumped as Bea's best friend. Heather is working hard to access the inner circle. Bubba is on a career break from a big job in the city, and on it goes. While Rachel was the main point of view character, I didn't find her especially likable or interesting, so that detracted somewhat from the book’s appeal.
Nonetheless, a car boot sale, a disastrous ball, a quiz night and a series of fundraising lunches offer entertaining vignettes of the women in action. I especially enjoyed the minutes of the fundraising committee meetings. They were enough to scare anyone off joining a P and C. Darker notes are struck when suicide and cancer enter the story but due to lack of engagement with the characters they fall a little flat. A spunky new school principal sets the cat among the pigeons and provides a romantic interest.
Overall, The Hive seems somehow less than the sum of its parts. It was a lightweight and enjoyable social comedy that had a lot of potential, but for me didn't quite hit the mark. Still, those with an interest in schoolyard politics will certainly find something to enjoy.
November 7, 2013
This novel takes a group of parents at St Ambrose Church Primary School and looks at the way their lives interact and change over a school year. There is Rachel, whose husband has just left her, queen bee, Beatrice Stuart, who organises virtually every event and holds court in the playground, desperate wannabee Heather, who longs to be accepted by Bea’s clique, smart and funny Georgie and new parents Bubba and Melissa. The school also has a new headmaster, handsome Mr Orchard, who becomes the focus of interest for some of the mothers.
Much of this novel, and these characters, are stereotypes, of course, but I would guess that most mothers at the school gate will know people who vaguely correspond to these types. It will be a year of tragedy, changing allegiances, the organised chaos of car boot and cake sales, bullying, rejection and romance. It is Rachel’s mother who has bee hives and the analogy between the hive and Bea Stuart can feel a little overdone. However, despite the shortcomings of the plot and the limitations of some characters, there is much to like in this novel. I enjoyed seeing how the course of the year changed the lives of those associated with the school and I particularly liked both Rachel and the permanently pregnant Georgie. Her deep love for her children was one of the most believable part of the whole book for me, as she tried to steer clear of involvement, but was always dragged in against her will.
This novel does not, thankfully, read like chick lit, but it could have been improved by a little more depth to the characters on the periphery of the plot, and you often wanted to shake Heather or ask yourself whether anyone would really have been taken in by the shallow and self centred Bea. An enjoyable, but light read, which will appeal especially to mothers who soon realise that the boardroom is nowhere near as complicated as playground politics...
Much of this novel, and these characters, are stereotypes, of course, but I would guess that most mothers at the school gate will know people who vaguely correspond to these types. It will be a year of tragedy, changing allegiances, the organised chaos of car boot and cake sales, bullying, rejection and romance. It is Rachel’s mother who has bee hives and the analogy between the hive and Bea Stuart can feel a little overdone. However, despite the shortcomings of the plot and the limitations of some characters, there is much to like in this novel. I enjoyed seeing how the course of the year changed the lives of those associated with the school and I particularly liked both Rachel and the permanently pregnant Georgie. Her deep love for her children was one of the most believable part of the whole book for me, as she tried to steer clear of involvement, but was always dragged in against her will.
This novel does not, thankfully, read like chick lit, but it could have been improved by a little more depth to the characters on the periphery of the plot, and you often wanted to shake Heather or ask yourself whether anyone would really have been taken in by the shallow and self centred Bea. An enjoyable, but light read, which will appeal especially to mothers who soon realise that the boardroom is nowhere near as complicated as playground politics...
May 8, 2017
I have never cared less about characters in a book.
This group of women, parents of kids at a school in the English countryside, are the hive -- see, there's a queen bee, isn't that clever? (no
At the very beginning, we find out that one of the hive has been cut out of the in-crowd by the queen bee. Soon we find that the queen bee has got a job and will be stepping back from her position as arbiter of all things volunteer-y at the school. The woman who's been cut out is aware that she's been shut out, but doesn't seem to care or wonder why. There's no mystery about what the job is that the queen bee has. So there don't appear to be any questions to answer here. If even the characters don't give a hoot what's going on, why should I?
I picked this up at the library because I'd just finished some pretty heavy history and wanted something light and entertaining. Well, this filled half the bill: It was light. I'm not averse to chick lit AT ALL, but it needs to be well-written chick lit and not something that's just a story about a bunch of women, so women will like it, right? That's insulting.
I'm just sorry I can't give this 0 stars, and sorry about a couple of hours of my life that I can't ever get back.
This group of women, parents of kids at a school in the English countryside, are the hive -- see, there's a queen bee, isn't that clever? (no
At the very beginning, we find out that one of the hive has been cut out of the in-crowd by the queen bee. Soon we find that the queen bee has got a job and will be stepping back from her position as arbiter of all things volunteer-y at the school. The woman who's been cut out is aware that she's been shut out, but doesn't seem to care or wonder why. There's no mystery about what the job is that the queen bee has. So there don't appear to be any questions to answer here. If even the characters don't give a hoot what's going on, why should I?
I picked this up at the library because I'd just finished some pretty heavy history and wanted something light and entertaining. Well, this filled half the bill: It was light. I'm not averse to chick lit AT ALL, but it needs to be well-written chick lit and not something that's just a story about a bunch of women, so women will like it, right? That's insulting.
I'm just sorry I can't give this 0 stars, and sorry about a couple of hours of my life that I can't ever get back.
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