My Life as Bee

by Sarah Forester Davis

Bee Andrews has spent a majority of her life trying to survive the ripples of her mother's mental illness. At twenty-years-old, she's finally managed to move on and escape her past.

Or so she thought.

While at college, Bee meets the mysterious Maverick James. For the first time ever, she finally feels comfortable enough to share the details of her traumatic childhood.

When her mother goes missing, Bee and Maverick embark on a road trip to sort through the mess she's left behind. But they don't realize someone's been watching them. Someone's worried about what they might uncover, and they're suddenly thrown into the middle of an unsolved murder that happened over a decade ago.

Will they be able to unravel the past and put the pieces together to solve this mystery? Or are they just setting themselves up to become the killer's newest victims?

497 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2024

About the author

Sarah is the author of the mature, young adult romantic suspense book series, Confession (the final book was released in June!) Her Name is Hazel and His Name is August (which won Best Romance of 2022 by Feed my Reads!) Dallas & Georgia (which has gone viral on TikTok!). And her standalone, My Life as Bee.

Her young adult books have a fandom of readers around the world and have been read in fifteen different countries. You'll find romance, mystery, and suspense on each page, and a large following of dedicated readers that eagerly await her next release.

She's a travel addict, wife, Mom to 4 kids, 4 cats, and a crazy dog. She's also a beach bum and coffee snob, and when she's not writing or chauffeuring kids around, she can be found with coffee in one hand and a fishing pole in the other.

Follow Sarah on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok for her latest book news.

Reviews

[Ashley Cook · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to finish this so bad but I just could NOT get myself to keep reading. The language felt so simple, maybe a first time try at fiction? I know it was a book club pick, but with so many other titles vying for my attention and work, I stopped before I got too deep in. The beginning hooked me, but I just couldn’t keep going.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was not easy to figure out the “who done it” and as the story develops I found myself trying so hard to figure it out but it was not obvious. I could not put this one down. I would’ve given it 5 stars but there are some quite explicit scenes that are not my jam so just trying to accurately represent it in totality.

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gross. If I didn’t look up the author I’d think she was 18. This was so poorly written. The only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 was because the story was actually good, but the telling of it was awful. It was gross because it read like YA but had 20 year olds having graphic sex. Apparently this was the authors first attempt at adult fiction. Next time she should write like an adult and have actual adults as the protagonists. It felt extra icky to read graphic details about 20 year old college students having sex. Yes I know this happens in the real world but no one wants to read about it. Gross.

[Sam R · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ read. I don’t know how Sarah Forester Davis comes up with these plots…but DANG! I had the first part figured out but the last surprise was definitely a shock. The characters were amazing. I loved what a badass Bee was. I loved how this storyline brought awareness to mental illness and how it can affect a person’s life and those closest to them. I loved Maverick, his family and his story/how it connected to Bee. Just amazing! 🐝🧡

[Lindsey Bowser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohmygod, I freaking loved this book. It took me a little while to get into it but I’m so glad I did. There was romance, a little bit of mystery and some seriously good plot twists. The characters were well written with good backstories, I could almost imagine them as real people.

Bee is probably the best example of a character with trauma who has appropriate responses to it, and growth from it, that I’ve ever read. All of the chapters with her backstory made my heart ache for her more and more.

Maverick was definitely my favorite out of the whole book and I’m stoked that he got his well deserved happy ending. His whole family was super cute to me.

We all need a friend like Zoe. Someone to balance us out and be awesome while doing it. Zoe is definitely a ride or die kind of friend.

Bee’s mom, and all of the side characters that came with her, frustrated me to no end and I can’t tell you how happy I was when she got left in the rearview.

On top of all of these great characters, the story is so good and well developed with enough details that you could probably predict the ending but I couldn’t until it happened. I won’t spoil anything but finding out Bee and Maverick’s stories are intertwined and how they were was shocking but it fit so good with the overall story. I’m happy they both ended up happy but that was such a wild journey to get there.

That being said, I can see why others may not agree with me. The characters are only 20 years old and there is explicit scenes, as well as discussions off child abuse and attempted sexual assault. If those things are not for you, then this book isn’t either. But if you can live with those things, I would highly recommend reading this.

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whelp she did it again. The characters that Sarah F Davis writes stick with you. She lets you feel like you're a part of their life, and then you feel completely lost when you finish their story. This one hit all my emotions, and I actually had to take a quick pause after that bathroom scene with Maverick's mom and sister. Found family tends to be a trope in all of Sarah's books, and if I could hug Grace James I would. I adored this book and the characters, and my prediction with the ending was absolutely wrong. Which I loved. Another 5 stars for my favorite author!

[Maddi · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star read like oh my god this book had me on the edge of my seat every single time I picked this book up. Page after page of suspense and mystery. This book does have some very heavy topics relating to child abuse etc and the way that Sarah wrote this it was like I was in that situation with Bee. I don't want to spoil too much but please read this book because this is seriously such a suspenseful read from start to end.

[Carey Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Bee’s story resonated with me on a deep level. Having had a complicated relationship with my own mother growing up, I felt this in my soul. Bee is complex, broken, beautiful. And I just loved her. My heart hurt for young her and cheered for adult her. I hope that someday we’ll get to explore more of her and Maverick’s love story. I feel like they’re just getting started.

[Arlette Mooney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first experience with this author. This novel was a complicated, mother-daughter relationship read, with well written and deeply developed characters. A difficult read and professionally described life marked by a childhood spent with a deeply, mentally unstable mother. A unique mystery-suspenseful story, a coming of age romance of two troubled souls who find and complete each other.

[Brianna Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit she does it again.

I freaking love this book. So many plot twists. So many unanswered questions that all get answered in the end.

I wish I could lose my memory so that I could read this book again and have it hit me hard like it did this time.

Sarah, this has to be the best book you have ever written and you write some pretty good books. Damn good books.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I think "her next one can't be as good as the others...." she goes and proves me wrong. My Life as Bee has such an original storyline, loveable characters and the way Sarah brings everything together was just perfect. 5 Stars. Ready for the sequel!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

The twist and turns were enjoyable to try and sleuth out, the back and forth between the current life to her past was nicely interwoven throughout. The end was extremely satisfying, didn't leave me with any questions or needing more information. Can't wait to read more from Sarah.

[Connie Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

Loved the characters. Sarah is such a great story teller. The twists and turns keep your attention. A little confused. About the significance of the locket hidden in the stuffed bee.

[Jen MacInnis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good thing I could read a line or two and flip through pages and not miss anything. Would definitely have been a DNF but my book club requires you read the book. I almost considered skipping this month because this book was so bad. Is this author a teenager?

[Sadie Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

How does her brain let her come up with these incredible stories and characters all the time? I have no words. Bee and Maverick are now my favorite book couple. Hands down.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author makes the characters relatable. Her books always have a mystery to them that keeps you guessing.

[Ashley Gross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me! I love all the twists and turns. I couldn’t put it down

[Maryjoh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars - A Game-Changing Page-Turner!

Sarah's latest masterpiece has left me speechless! I thought she'd already reached new heights, but this book surpasses all expectations. The story begins with a smooth, engaging introduction to the characters and their backstories. But just as you think you know where it's headed, the plot takes a dramatic turn, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Sarah's writing is truly a gift, and I'm already counting down the days until her next release!