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Honey Bee Mine
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Expected 10 Feb 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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40 copies available
U.S. only
In this sexy small town romance from the author of Birding with Benefits, a type-A beekeeper and a former bad boy join forces to plan a summertime Honey Festival.
Like the bees she keeps, Penny Becker lives by a golden rule: never stop working. That mantra kept Becker Farms running when her grandfather, dad, and ex all left for greener pastures. But after taking out a loan for an expansion plan that crashed and burned, Penny has to find a way to pay or risk losing it all, and she’s betting everything on the Sullivan’s Glen Honey Festival. To save the farm, she has to make the festival bigger, better, and more successful than ever before—and she plans to do it all on her own.
Reformed bad boy turned restaurateur Zander Bouras left Sullivan’s Glen in a blaze of glory and vowed to never return. But when his ex-wife wants to go back for the summer, Zander grudgingly follows. He refuses to miss time with his son, and figures it’s finally time to deal with the farmhouse his grandfather left, for some reason, to him.
His first day in town brings Zander face to face with Penny, the girl whose perfect life mocked him from next door. It’s just his luck that his son loves her and her bees, and before he knows it he’s been volunteered to help plan a honey festival with the sexy, stubborn beekeeper whose braid he just wants to tug. As they learn to work together, Zander faces his demons and learns to see Sullivan’s Glen in a new light as Penny realizes that accepting help isn’t so bad—especially from the right person. But as the festival day and Zander’s departure draw near, they’ll have to decide if the romance buzzing between them can last past the sweet days of summer.
Like the bees she keeps, Penny Becker lives by a golden rule: never stop working. That mantra kept Becker Farms running when her grandfather, dad, and ex all left for greener pastures. But after taking out a loan for an expansion plan that crashed and burned, Penny has to find a way to pay or risk losing it all, and she’s betting everything on the Sullivan’s Glen Honey Festival. To save the farm, she has to make the festival bigger, better, and more successful than ever before—and she plans to do it all on her own.
Reformed bad boy turned restaurateur Zander Bouras left Sullivan’s Glen in a blaze of glory and vowed to never return. But when his ex-wife wants to go back for the summer, Zander grudgingly follows. He refuses to miss time with his son, and figures it’s finally time to deal with the farmhouse his grandfather left, for some reason, to him.
His first day in town brings Zander face to face with Penny, the girl whose perfect life mocked him from next door. It’s just his luck that his son loves her and her bees, and before he knows it he’s been volunteered to help plan a honey festival with the sexy, stubborn beekeeper whose braid he just wants to tug. As they learn to work together, Zander faces his demons and learns to see Sullivan’s Glen in a new light as Penny realizes that accepting help isn’t so bad—especially from the right person. But as the festival day and Zander’s departure draw near, they’ll have to decide if the romance buzzing between them can last past the sweet days of summer.
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 10, 2026
10118 people want to read
About the author
Sarah T. Dubb
6 books534 followersSarah T. Dubb is a writer, public librarian, parent, and activist living the dream with chickens and desert tortoises in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona. Birding with Benefits is her debut novel; she is currently working on her second romantic comedy. Visit her at SarahTDubb.com.
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Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was fun.
Sure, I rolled my eyes sometimes, it was a bit cheesy, a bit corny, but that’s okay because overall, I had a really good time reading this.
Now I will say that I don’t think this is a second chance romance. These people didn’t really know each other. Yes, as a teenager Zander spent like three summers in town or something staying with his grandfather who was Penny’s neighbour. But they never really had anything to do with each other. There was some one-sided animosity, but they barely even talked in the past.
It was kind of insta-lusty, too, which I hate. For some reason though I wasn’t too bothered by it here. I mean, I would have appreciated it if they hadn’t lusted after each other from the start. Because they didn’t like each other at first. But they still constantly thought about how hot the other person was and that’s just something I’ll never understand. If I really dislike someone, no matter how attractive they are, I’m not going to think about them with no clothes on all the time, because I’ll be preoccupied with just really disliking them. But maybe that’s just me.
Ultimately, though, I liked everything else about this story, so I managed to overlook this.
I enjoyed Penny and Zander as the main protagonists, they were so sweet together, and they communicated so well which is a crazy thing to remark on if you think about it, but at this point it’s not something I can say about a lot of other romances … so unsurprisingly, I was invested early on.
The side characters were perfect, a great addition to the story, and I really liked the queer representation here. Everyone was actually part of the story and not just random people we meet once and never see again just so we can put a checkmark behind inclusion of queer characters.
The small-town setting paired with the summer vibes were exactly what I needed, and the plot about the festival and the bees was both interesting and fascinating.
I’m being kind of vague about everything on purpose because this book surprised me a few times with some of its plot points and their careful exploration and I don’t want to give any of that away.
I’d call this a feel-good summer romance with more depth than you’d expect. It made me cringe sometimes, but it made me smile more, and I almost cried at the end because the epilogue was beautiful.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Sure, I rolled my eyes sometimes, it was a bit cheesy, a bit corny, but that’s okay because overall, I had a really good time reading this.
Now I will say that I don’t think this is a second chance romance. These people didn’t really know each other. Yes, as a teenager Zander spent like three summers in town or something staying with his grandfather who was Penny’s neighbour. But they never really had anything to do with each other. There was some one-sided animosity, but they barely even talked in the past.
It was kind of insta-lusty, too, which I hate. For some reason though I wasn’t too bothered by it here. I mean, I would have appreciated it if they hadn’t lusted after each other from the start. Because they didn’t like each other at first. But they still constantly thought about how hot the other person was and that’s just something I’ll never understand. If I really dislike someone, no matter how attractive they are, I’m not going to think about them with no clothes on all the time, because I’ll be preoccupied with just really disliking them. But maybe that’s just me.
Ultimately, though, I liked everything else about this story, so I managed to overlook this.
I enjoyed Penny and Zander as the main protagonists, they were so sweet together, and they communicated so well which is a crazy thing to remark on if you think about it, but at this point it’s not something I can say about a lot of other romances … so unsurprisingly, I was invested early on.
The side characters were perfect, a great addition to the story, and I really liked the queer representation here. Everyone was actually part of the story and not just random people we meet once and never see again just so we can put a checkmark behind inclusion of queer characters.
The small-town setting paired with the summer vibes were exactly what I needed, and the plot about the festival and the bees was both interesting and fascinating.
I’m being kind of vague about everything on purpose because this book surprised me a few times with some of its plot points and their careful exploration and I don’t want to give any of that away.
I’d call this a feel-good summer romance with more depth than you’d expect. It made me cringe sometimes, but it made me smile more, and I almost cried at the end because the epilogue was beautiful.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Sarah T. Dubb’s sophomore novel, “Honey Bee Mine,” is a contemporary romance between a small-town beekeeper and a reformed bad boy who returns home after his grandfather’s death.
Thirty-four-year-old Penny Becker has been obsessed with bees since childhood. After her father abandoned her mother, Ruth, upon learning she was pregnant, Penny became determined never to be a burden or an obligation. When her boyfriend, Henry, convinces her to leverage Becker Farms for a capital-gains venture that ultimately fails, Penny is left with just two months to earn enough money to cover her debts, or risk the bank seizing her thirty-eight-acre farm.
Thirty-five-year-old Zander Bouras has loathed Sullivan’s Glen ever since his addict mother dropped him there every summer so she could get high, leaving him in his grandfather’s care. Known as the town’s bad boy, Zander rejected his grandfather’s guidance, constantly testing the limits of both the school and the community before fleeing town with his pregnant girlfriend, Mallory. Now a successful restaurateur, Zander returns following his grandfather’s death with his ex-wife, Mallory, her girlfriend Quinn, who also happens to be Zander’s best friend, and their eleven-year-old son, Winter. His plan is simple: renovate the house, sell it, and return to Boston once the summer ends.
Everything changes when Zander encounters “Perfect Penny,” the girl next door his grandfather idolized and held up as an example of everything Zander was not. She seemed to have the perfect family and the town’s unwavering affection. But when Winter asks for a bee tour of Penny’s farm and Zander learns that Penny also grew up without a father, he realizes how flawed his assumptions about her truly were.
Determined to save her farm for another year, Penny plans to revive Sullivan’s Glen’s annual Honey Festival. Thanks to her RJ and Winter, Zander volunteers to help. As the two work together, they must learn to trust each other and dismantle years of misconceptions, not only to ensure the festival’s success, but also while knowing that any relationship between them has an expiration date, as Zander intends to return to Boston once the summer ends.
Dubb’s sophomore novel is a classic contemporary romance that notably avoids both miscommunication tropes and a third-act breakup. She grounds the story in realistic conflicts and enriches it with a diverse supporting cast, including a trans and ace side character, a sapphic relationship, and a mixed-race couple. Penny’s ex never appears as a traditional villain, which is a refreshing deviation from genre expectations. However, the antagonism between Penny and Zander dissipates quickly, shifting most of the tension toward saving the farm and Penny’s reluctance to share the extent of her financial troubles. “Honey Bee Mine” is sweet, much like its title, though Dubb’s debut novel ultimately remains the stronger work.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss from Gallery Books via Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thirty-four-year-old Penny Becker has been obsessed with bees since childhood. After her father abandoned her mother, Ruth, upon learning she was pregnant, Penny became determined never to be a burden or an obligation. When her boyfriend, Henry, convinces her to leverage Becker Farms for a capital-gains venture that ultimately fails, Penny is left with just two months to earn enough money to cover her debts, or risk the bank seizing her thirty-eight-acre farm.
Thirty-five-year-old Zander Bouras has loathed Sullivan’s Glen ever since his addict mother dropped him there every summer so she could get high, leaving him in his grandfather’s care. Known as the town’s bad boy, Zander rejected his grandfather’s guidance, constantly testing the limits of both the school and the community before fleeing town with his pregnant girlfriend, Mallory. Now a successful restaurateur, Zander returns following his grandfather’s death with his ex-wife, Mallory, her girlfriend Quinn, who also happens to be Zander’s best friend, and their eleven-year-old son, Winter. His plan is simple: renovate the house, sell it, and return to Boston once the summer ends.
Everything changes when Zander encounters “Perfect Penny,” the girl next door his grandfather idolized and held up as an example of everything Zander was not. She seemed to have the perfect family and the town’s unwavering affection. But when Winter asks for a bee tour of Penny’s farm and Zander learns that Penny also grew up without a father, he realizes how flawed his assumptions about her truly were.
Determined to save her farm for another year, Penny plans to revive Sullivan’s Glen’s annual Honey Festival. Thanks to her RJ and Winter, Zander volunteers to help. As the two work together, they must learn to trust each other and dismantle years of misconceptions, not only to ensure the festival’s success, but also while knowing that any relationship between them has an expiration date, as Zander intends to return to Boston once the summer ends.
Dubb’s sophomore novel is a classic contemporary romance that notably avoids both miscommunication tropes and a third-act breakup. She grounds the story in realistic conflicts and enriches it with a diverse supporting cast, including a trans and ace side character, a sapphic relationship, and a mixed-race couple. Penny’s ex never appears as a traditional villain, which is a refreshing deviation from genre expectations. However, the antagonism between Penny and Zander dissipates quickly, shifting most of the tension toward saving the farm and Penny’s reluctance to share the extent of her financial troubles. “Honey Bee Mine” is sweet, much like its title, though Dubb’s debut novel ultimately remains the stronger work.
I received an ARC through Edelweiss from Gallery Books via Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 6, 2025
Immediately after finishing Sarah’s debut, Birding With Benefits, I knew she was an author whose work I’d seek out time and again. Her characters are flawed but likable, their circumstances are rational and relatable, the romance is steamy, and the payoff is earned. Honey Bee Mine has all of that, and it seamlessly combines the realness of life and complexities of being human with a romance that makes you sweat. I thoroughly enjoyed its unique take on the “girl next door” and summer romance possibilities. It’s not what one typically sees when you’ve got those two ingredients, and I loved it for that. If only this one could be made into a movie as well…
Things I Loved:
🍯 Penny (FMC) - She’s strong, smart, handy, and self-sufficient (to a fault). I understood her drive and fears and enjoyed watching her learn to accept help and heal. I applauded her standing up for herself and others.
🐝 Zander (MMC) - Present day Z gave Jess from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life while younger him was the epitome of early Jess when he first arrived in Star’s Hollow. Sarah dedicated this book to her therapist and mentions that the work they’ve done over time is present within the pages. As someone who has been working with a therapist for over a decade, I felt that so deeply here, particularly through Z’s character. We love a man in therapy who isn’t afraid to show his emotions and puts in the work to do and be better for himself and those around him.
🍯 The Communication - Honest and heartfelt. Tough conversations weren’t shied away from, even early on, and I wholeheartedly appreciated that.
🐝 How Parenting and Coparenting Was Presented - This right here is what healthy relationships and coparenting looks like. The situation was complicated but handled maturely. Winter, Z’s son, was going through it as a tween, but Z and his ex-wife’s teamwork with him was beautiful. Winter and Z’s heart-to-heart also made me cry.
🍯 The Friendships - I love friendships where they aren’t afraid to call you out on your $hit and help you get out of your own way. Quinn and RJ were getting the job done.
🐝 The Romance - Offering each other a safe space, making the other feel seen and heard, physical chemistry off the charts, what’s not to love? Trespassers for life.
🍯 The Bees! - Sarah has this remarkable ability to make me want to take up new hobbies. First birding and now this. My YouTube search history is about to be buzzing.
🐝 The Town - Quirky and quaint without trying too hard.
🍯 The Epilogue - Oh look, it’s me, crying again. Z!
🐝 No Unnecessary Drama - Thank you.
There are so many quotes I want to share but have to wait until publication to do so. In the meantime, lemme just say that my Kindle highlights are popping off.
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this text in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
Things I Loved:
🍯 Penny (FMC) - She’s strong, smart, handy, and self-sufficient (to a fault). I understood her drive and fears and enjoyed watching her learn to accept help and heal. I applauded her standing up for herself and others.
🐝 Zander (MMC) - Present day Z gave Jess from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life while younger him was the epitome of early Jess when he first arrived in Star’s Hollow. Sarah dedicated this book to her therapist and mentions that the work they’ve done over time is present within the pages. As someone who has been working with a therapist for over a decade, I felt that so deeply here, particularly through Z’s character. We love a man in therapy who isn’t afraid to show his emotions and puts in the work to do and be better for himself and those around him.
🍯 The Communication - Honest and heartfelt. Tough conversations weren’t shied away from, even early on, and I wholeheartedly appreciated that.
🐝 How Parenting and Coparenting Was Presented - This right here is what healthy relationships and coparenting looks like. The situation was complicated but handled maturely. Winter, Z’s son, was going through it as a tween, but Z and his ex-wife’s teamwork with him was beautiful. Winter and Z’s heart-to-heart also made me cry.
🍯 The Friendships - I love friendships where they aren’t afraid to call you out on your $hit and help you get out of your own way. Quinn and RJ were getting the job done.
🐝 The Romance - Offering each other a safe space, making the other feel seen and heard, physical chemistry off the charts, what’s not to love? Trespassers for life.
🍯 The Bees! - Sarah has this remarkable ability to make me want to take up new hobbies. First birding and now this. My YouTube search history is about to be buzzing.
🐝 The Town - Quirky and quaint without trying too hard.
🍯 The Epilogue - Oh look, it’s me, crying again. Z!
🐝 No Unnecessary Drama - Thank you.
There are so many quotes I want to share but have to wait until publication to do so. In the meantime, lemme just say that my Kindle highlights are popping off.
** Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this text in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. **
January 25, 2026
Thank you to Gallery books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest opinion.
🤍👒🐝🍯👩🏼❤️👨🏻🧺🍷🏘️
This book was such a breath of fresh air, I enjoyed it so much! Not only was it a beautiful love story between Zander & Penny, but it was also a tale of healing, acceptance, family, and belonging. The cast of characters in this book was so diverse and that really stood out to me. I loved watching a group of people in “non traditional” families come together to form a beautiful one.
Zander and Penny’s love felt so gradual and real because I feel like they became friends before falling for each other. I loved watching Zander continue to show up for Penny, while she slowly let her walls down and allowed him in. And the chemistry between those two was off the charts, their romance was so sweet and wholesome, yet also so spicy!
The fictional small town of Sullivans Glenn was a joy to escape too, and the way everyone in this town always came together was so delightful.
If you’re looking for a romance story that run deeper than just surface level love, and a book to escape reality and just feel all the butterflies while reading, I highly recommend this!
It was my first book by this author, but certainly won’t be the last! I absolutely loved her style of cozy writing and look forward to reading more by her!
🤍👒🐝🍯👩🏼❤️👨🏻🧺🍷🏘️
This book was such a breath of fresh air, I enjoyed it so much! Not only was it a beautiful love story between Zander & Penny, but it was also a tale of healing, acceptance, family, and belonging. The cast of characters in this book was so diverse and that really stood out to me. I loved watching a group of people in “non traditional” families come together to form a beautiful one.
Zander and Penny’s love felt so gradual and real because I feel like they became friends before falling for each other. I loved watching Zander continue to show up for Penny, while she slowly let her walls down and allowed him in. And the chemistry between those two was off the charts, their romance was so sweet and wholesome, yet also so spicy!
The fictional small town of Sullivans Glenn was a joy to escape too, and the way everyone in this town always came together was so delightful.
If you’re looking for a romance story that run deeper than just surface level love, and a book to escape reality and just feel all the butterflies while reading, I highly recommend this!
It was my first book by this author, but certainly won’t be the last! I absolutely loved her style of cozy writing and look forward to reading more by her!
January 14, 2026
Thank you to Gallery Books for the ARC to read and review!
Penny Becker, beekeeper and all-around show runner at Becker Farms has dug herself into quite a hole. She needs this year’s Honey Festival to be a massive success in order to satisfy the bank and avoid foreclosure. When reformed bad boy, Zander, moves back to town, Penny finds that his help in planning for the festival might be exactly what she needs.
After loving Birding With Benefits, I was SO excited to read this new romance from Sarah T. Dubb and it did not disappoint! There’s so much to love about this quirky town and its characters. Zander is such a dreamy single dad (I love his son, Winter!!!) and we LOVE a man in therapy 👏. Penny and Zander had some great banter, and their communication and honesty was refreshing.
The relationships are where the novel really shines, and I adored reading the really lovely and introspective dialogue that many characters shared with each other. Zander and his son had some great conversations, Penny and her mother and grandmother were able to talk through a lot of Penny’s questions and fears. There are just so many powerful human moments.
This one is out on 2.10 and it’s totally worth a read, especially if you loved Birding With Benefits!
Penny Becker, beekeeper and all-around show runner at Becker Farms has dug herself into quite a hole. She needs this year’s Honey Festival to be a massive success in order to satisfy the bank and avoid foreclosure. When reformed bad boy, Zander, moves back to town, Penny finds that his help in planning for the festival might be exactly what she needs.
After loving Birding With Benefits, I was SO excited to read this new romance from Sarah T. Dubb and it did not disappoint! There’s so much to love about this quirky town and its characters. Zander is such a dreamy single dad (I love his son, Winter!!!) and we LOVE a man in therapy 👏. Penny and Zander had some great banter, and their communication and honesty was refreshing.
The relationships are where the novel really shines, and I adored reading the really lovely and introspective dialogue that many characters shared with each other. Zander and his son had some great conversations, Penny and her mother and grandmother were able to talk through a lot of Penny’s questions and fears. There are just so many powerful human moments.
This one is out on 2.10 and it’s totally worth a read, especially if you loved Birding With Benefits!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Let me just say that Sarah T. Dubb may just become an auto-read author for me after her second fantastic novel.
I was lucky to read Birding With Benefits in my romance book club, and that was my first introduction to her work. I am so thrilled with how wonderful (also) Honey Bee Mine was as well!
I absolutely love when we get MCs that are older (and wiser) than the majority of romance heroines/heroes. In this novel our FMC is 35, which is wonderful and relatable!
I loved learning about the beekeeping aspect in this novel (as much as I learned about birding from her debut!) and found so much of it fascinating! I thought that the relationship between Penny and Zander was very believable and felt realistic with their concerns on both sides. It is refreshing when we get a MMC who is emotionally intelligent and communicates with his partner.
Much of the novel surrounds her family's farm and seeing how it can be saved from foreclosure. We get to see the power of community in this one, which was wonderful.
Overall, I loved this one and cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us!
If you enjoy these tropes, you may also love this one:
- Small Town Romance
- LGBTQIA+ Representation
- Older MCs
- Supportive Family
I was lucky to read Birding With Benefits in my romance book club, and that was my first introduction to her work. I am so thrilled with how wonderful (also) Honey Bee Mine was as well!
I absolutely love when we get MCs that are older (and wiser) than the majority of romance heroines/heroes. In this novel our FMC is 35, which is wonderful and relatable!
I loved learning about the beekeeping aspect in this novel (as much as I learned about birding from her debut!) and found so much of it fascinating! I thought that the relationship between Penny and Zander was very believable and felt realistic with their concerns on both sides. It is refreshing when we get a MMC who is emotionally intelligent and communicates with his partner.
Much of the novel surrounds her family's farm and seeing how it can be saved from foreclosure. We get to see the power of community in this one, which was wonderful.
Overall, I loved this one and cannot wait to see what the author has in store for us!
If you enjoy these tropes, you may also love this one:
- Small Town Romance
- LGBTQIA+ Representation
- Older MCs
- Supportive Family
February 2, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!
When I read Birding with Benefits, I knew Sarah T. Dubb was going to be a must-read author for me. Honey Bee Mine did not disappoint. Sarah has an incredible ability to write complex characters who are flawed but show up for one another. This book’s FMC hit really close to home. Reading her journey healed some parts of me. I loved both Penny and Zander and was sad when the book was over because I wanted more time with them and their families/chosen families.
When I read Birding with Benefits, I knew Sarah T. Dubb was going to be a must-read author for me. Honey Bee Mine did not disappoint. Sarah has an incredible ability to write complex characters who are flawed but show up for one another. This book’s FMC hit really close to home. Reading her journey healed some parts of me. I loved both Penny and Zander and was sad when the book was over because I wanted more time with them and their families/chosen families.
September 17, 2025
Oh, this one was pure sweetness. The story has that cozy, feel-good energy that makes you want to curl up and read it in one sitting. The characters are charming, the romance is adorable, and the whole vibe just leaves you smiling like you’ve been wrapped in a warm hug. Such a delightful read from start to finish.
February 2, 2026
Synopsis: Penny is focused on trying to save her family farm when complications arise in the form of Zander, the former bad boy next door, returning to town.
Thoughts: I’m going to start with my favorite thing about this book, and that is that there is no miscommunication or unnecessary third act breakup! 👏 These characters communicate as adults and work together as teammates, and I just love that for them. It’s super refreshing to see realistic and grounded characters behaving maturely. I also loved the diverse cast, the unique coparenting situation, and the superb found family vibes. And who knew beekeeping was so cool?! If you’re looking for a super sweet, feel-good romance with a lot of depth, look no further!
Read this if you like:
🐝 beekeeping
🐝 small town
🐝 single dad
🐝 opposites attract
🐝 family
Thoughts: I’m going to start with my favorite thing about this book, and that is that there is no miscommunication or unnecessary third act breakup! 👏 These characters communicate as adults and work together as teammates, and I just love that for them. It’s super refreshing to see realistic and grounded characters behaving maturely. I also loved the diverse cast, the unique coparenting situation, and the superb found family vibes. And who knew beekeeping was so cool?! If you’re looking for a super sweet, feel-good romance with a lot of depth, look no further!
Read this if you like:
🐝 beekeeping
🐝 small town
🐝 single dad
🐝 opposites attract
🐝 family
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ✨
Thank you Gallery Books for the eARC in exchange for a review.
Listen, I didn't expect to cry in the last 15% of this book but I did and I'm here to talk about it. Honey Bee Mine was such a sweet romance. It hit in all the right spots for me & gave me small town hallmark romance vibes in the best possible way. It was cute, swoonworthy and honestly emotional. I think Dubb beautifully covered some very real topics and tied them into the story in a way that really added to the story. I adored and related to both Penny and Zander and found them both to be really well written & fleshed out characters. And while we're talking about Zander !!! The man that you are!!! We love a man who goes to therapy and can reflect on his behavior, truly one of the best MMCs I've read in a long time.
I'm excited to reread when it comes out with the audiobook!
Thank you Gallery Books for the eARC in exchange for a review.
Listen, I didn't expect to cry in the last 15% of this book but I did and I'm here to talk about it. Honey Bee Mine was such a sweet romance. It hit in all the right spots for me & gave me small town hallmark romance vibes in the best possible way. It was cute, swoonworthy and honestly emotional. I think Dubb beautifully covered some very real topics and tied them into the story in a way that really added to the story. I adored and related to both Penny and Zander and found them both to be really well written & fleshed out characters. And while we're talking about Zander !!! The man that you are!!! We love a man who goes to therapy and can reflect on his behavior, truly one of the best MMCs I've read in a long time.
I'm excited to reread when it comes out with the audiobook!
Want to read
September 1, 2025"In this small town, enemies-to-lovers romance from the author of Birding with Benefits, a type-A beekeeper and a former bad boy join forces to plan a summertime Honey Festival."
this sounds like a hallmark movie (complimentary)
this sounds like a hallmark movie (complimentary)
October 25, 2025
Honey Bee Mine
3.5 ⭐️
If you’re looking for a feel good, Hallmark style small-town romance then you’re in luck! The authors previous work is currently being adapted into a hallmark film so it’s fitting!
The who
- Penny, the small town bee keeper with a big problem who has a hard time trusting others or asking for help. She needs to throw the most buzzing Honey festival in the history of bees in order to afford a huge loan she took out a few years earlier…in steps…
- Zander, reformed bad boy turned doting dad who has returned to the town he hated spending his summers in. He wants to make a point to his pre teen by making the most of the summer . How does he do this? By helping out his neighbor throw a honey festival even though he hated her his entire young adult life.
Okay , admittedly both of these characters kinda got on my nerves a bit. Pennys refusal to ask for help kinda drove me insane even though her reasoning was understandable. Also the insta-lust wasn’t for me, admittedly. Zander had put in some hours with his therapist but penny could definitely use some. I know Zander talked her into it eventually.
Again, this felt like reading a hallmark movie (in a good way) everyone was likable, the side characters had some cute things going on, and the big festival drama of it all made for a fun backdrop. I could picture in my head how each scene would be shot - were it actually a hallmark movie and not just in my head.
If the tension had lasted a bit longer I feel like I’d have liked it a lot more as I’m a sucker for a slow burn and this was…not slow but still very cute!
Thanks NetGalley and Gallery books for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
3.5 ⭐️
If you’re looking for a feel good, Hallmark style small-town romance then you’re in luck! The authors previous work is currently being adapted into a hallmark film so it’s fitting!
The who
- Penny, the small town bee keeper with a big problem who has a hard time trusting others or asking for help. She needs to throw the most buzzing Honey festival in the history of bees in order to afford a huge loan she took out a few years earlier…in steps…
- Zander, reformed bad boy turned doting dad who has returned to the town he hated spending his summers in. He wants to make a point to his pre teen by making the most of the summer . How does he do this? By helping out his neighbor throw a honey festival even though he hated her his entire young adult life.
Okay , admittedly both of these characters kinda got on my nerves a bit. Pennys refusal to ask for help kinda drove me insane even though her reasoning was understandable. Also the insta-lust wasn’t for me, admittedly. Zander had put in some hours with his therapist but penny could definitely use some. I know Zander talked her into it eventually.
Again, this felt like reading a hallmark movie (in a good way) everyone was likable, the side characters had some cute things going on, and the big festival drama of it all made for a fun backdrop. I could picture in my head how each scene would be shot - were it actually a hallmark movie and not just in my head.
If the tension had lasted a bit longer I feel like I’d have liked it a lot more as I’m a sucker for a slow burn and this was…not slow but still very cute!
Thanks NetGalley and Gallery books for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Welcome to Becker Farms ☺️🌞
Where there’s land, sunshine, apples, and a lot of honey 🍯🤩
Honey Bee 🐝 Mine
Pub Date: Feb 10
3.5 ⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Penny Becker has been running the family farm alongside her mother and grandmother since she was old enough to help. Things were going well… until an ex left Penny drowning in debt, with very little time to fix it. Her only solution? The Honey Festival or she risks losing everything.
Penny has always been in control of her life and work, refusing help whenever it’s offered. But when a neighbor with a bad reputation returns after years away, Penny’s carefully ordered world is turned upside down.
Zander Bouras has always hated Sullivan’s Glen. Coming back after his grandfather’s death to settle affairs and sell the house was the last thing he wanted to do. But his plans start to change the moment he sees Penny again and she takes his breath away.
What will happen between these two? Will they be able to save the farm? Read and find out 😉
Tropes & vibes:
Good girl × bad boy
Small-town romance
Enemies to friends to lovers
Lots of fun facts about bees 🐝
One of my favourite things about this story is how Zander&Penny helped each other to open up, accept help, face their past and feelings, and be brave about their future.
The small town vibes were cute 🥰 and the spice didn't shadow the story but something was missing for me hence the 3.5 rating.
Overall, it was a feel good novel perfect for reading in Spring 🌱 out in the sunshine.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an arc of #HoneyBeeMine in exchange for my honest opinion.
Xoxo😘
Where there’s land, sunshine, apples, and a lot of honey 🍯🤩
Honey Bee 🐝 Mine
Pub Date: Feb 10
3.5 ⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️
Penny Becker has been running the family farm alongside her mother and grandmother since she was old enough to help. Things were going well… until an ex left Penny drowning in debt, with very little time to fix it. Her only solution? The Honey Festival or she risks losing everything.
Penny has always been in control of her life and work, refusing help whenever it’s offered. But when a neighbor with a bad reputation returns after years away, Penny’s carefully ordered world is turned upside down.
Zander Bouras has always hated Sullivan’s Glen. Coming back after his grandfather’s death to settle affairs and sell the house was the last thing he wanted to do. But his plans start to change the moment he sees Penny again and she takes his breath away.
What will happen between these two? Will they be able to save the farm? Read and find out 😉
Tropes & vibes:
Good girl × bad boy
Small-town romance
Enemies to friends to lovers
Lots of fun facts about bees 🐝
One of my favourite things about this story is how Zander&Penny helped each other to open up, accept help, face their past and feelings, and be brave about their future.
The small town vibes were cute 🥰 and the spice didn't shadow the story but something was missing for me hence the 3.5 rating.
Overall, it was a feel good novel perfect for reading in Spring 🌱 out in the sunshine.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an arc of #HoneyBeeMine in exchange for my honest opinion.
Xoxo😘
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I adored everything about this sweet small town romance, from the characters to the town festival to the bees.
Penny is a beekeeper getting ready to host a Honey Festival in her small town, and Zander is the former bad boy neighbor back in town willing to help her out. Their friends and family add plenty of fun moments to the mix, making this a just delightful open door romance.
I loved how mature the relationship between Penny and Zander was - open conversations, telling each other what they needed, and no dreaded third act breakup necessary. Both are facing some tough things from their past, and they find a bit of healing when they learn to lean on one another. Their family members and closest friends offer heart and humor along the way, and the small town camaraderie was just perfection.
I never knew honeybees could be so fascinating, but Penny's life on the farm offers so many teachable moments as she shows Zander's son all the things one could possibly know about bees. While I'm still not ready to put on a bee suit and get close to thousands of them, this book definitely taught me alot about these incredible creatures!
💞 Small town
💞 Found family
💞 Single dad
💞 Diverse secondary characters
💞 Emotional healing
Penny is a beekeeper getting ready to host a Honey Festival in her small town, and Zander is the former bad boy neighbor back in town willing to help her out. Their friends and family add plenty of fun moments to the mix, making this a just delightful open door romance.
I loved how mature the relationship between Penny and Zander was - open conversations, telling each other what they needed, and no dreaded third act breakup necessary. Both are facing some tough things from their past, and they find a bit of healing when they learn to lean on one another. Their family members and closest friends offer heart and humor along the way, and the small town camaraderie was just perfection.
I never knew honeybees could be so fascinating, but Penny's life on the farm offers so many teachable moments as she shows Zander's son all the things one could possibly know about bees. While I'm still not ready to put on a bee suit and get close to thousands of them, this book definitely taught me alot about these incredible creatures!
💞 Small town
💞 Found family
💞 Single dad
💞 Diverse secondary characters
💞 Emotional healing
January 12, 2026
After reading Birding with Benefits from Sarah T. Dubb I was super excited to get in to this story!
This one is a small town romance with those feel good Hallmark vibes that help you escape the real world. Penny has taken over her family farm and is big in to the beekeeping portion of it. Zander used to visit in the summers as a kid and was the town bad boy. These two team up to make the town festival so that Penny can make enough money to keep the farm going and so Zander can prove he isn't the useless kid he's always been made to feel like.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. There were quite a few moments that just felt unnecessary to me and didn't add anything. I found myself losing interest throughout even though these two and the side characters were a fun bunch. Sadly it just didn't have the same effect as Birding with Benefits for me. But if you want a feel good, Hallmark vibe story with some emotional turmoil mixed in I definitely think it's a book worth venturing in to. Sometimes a book doesn't vibe with one person but is fantastic for another!
Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
This one is a small town romance with those feel good Hallmark vibes that help you escape the real world. Penny has taken over her family farm and is big in to the beekeeping portion of it. Zander used to visit in the summers as a kid and was the town bad boy. These two team up to make the town festival so that Penny can make enough money to keep the farm going and so Zander can prove he isn't the useless kid he's always been made to feel like.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. There were quite a few moments that just felt unnecessary to me and didn't add anything. I found myself losing interest throughout even though these two and the side characters were a fun bunch. Sadly it just didn't have the same effect as Birding with Benefits for me. But if you want a feel good, Hallmark vibe story with some emotional turmoil mixed in I definitely think it's a book worth venturing in to. Sometimes a book doesn't vibe with one person but is fantastic for another!
Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
November 22, 2025
Penny Becker has lived in a small town her entire life. Sullivan’s Glen, NY isn’t for everyone, but it’s home to her. She runs her family’s farm and raises honeybees, but after a bad business decision, their financial situation is in dire straits. Hoping to raise enough money to save the farm by hosting a town honey festival, the last thing Penny needs is a distraction like Zander Bouras. Zander used to spend summers in Sullivan’s Glen with his grandfather as a teen, and now he’s back. Has he reformed his bad- boy ways? Will he stick around for a little bit longer this time?
I was a fan of Sarah T. Dubb from Birding with Benefits, and Honey Bee Mine is another winner! I really enjoyed this sweet, small town romance! Penny was such a bright and fun character, and Zander was the perfect accompaniment to her sunny disposition. I loved seeing the character growth in both of them. The setting was perfection, and I loved all of the secondary characters as well. I’m a big fan of Sarah’s nature-based plots; they feel so warm and inviting. What a fantastic second book!
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
I was a fan of Sarah T. Dubb from Birding with Benefits, and Honey Bee Mine is another winner! I really enjoyed this sweet, small town romance! Penny was such a bright and fun character, and Zander was the perfect accompaniment to her sunny disposition. I loved seeing the character growth in both of them. The setting was perfection, and I loved all of the secondary characters as well. I’m a big fan of Sarah’s nature-based plots; they feel so warm and inviting. What a fantastic second book!
Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC!
December 21, 2025
Birding with Benefits was one of my top reads in 2024 so I was so excited and ready to love Honey Bee Mine. Unfortunately it fell completely flat for me and I struggled to get through it.
What worked for me: a queer ex-wife and her new trans partner, the line about this not being a Hallmark movie. I died.
What didn't work for me: pretty much everything else. Two MCs who don't use their words, and probably both need some therapy. I didn't love the life is better in rural America plot, or the reformed bad boy swoops in to save the day. I especially hated when Zander took Penny for pancakes - I won't spoil the plot, but Penny needed assistance from a partner, not a white knight saving the helpless little lady, and it all felt off. Overall Romance-reasons was doing a lot of heavy lifting in the plot and everything tied-up entirely too neatly.
Thank you to Gallery Books for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
What worked for me: a queer ex-wife and her new trans partner, the line about this not being a Hallmark movie. I died.
What didn't work for me: pretty much everything else. Two MCs who don't use their words, and probably both need some therapy. I didn't love the life is better in rural America plot, or the reformed bad boy swoops in to save the day. I especially hated when Zander took Penny for pancakes - I won't spoil the plot, but Penny needed assistance from a partner, not a white knight saving the helpless little lady, and it all felt off. Overall Romance-reasons was doing a lot of heavy lifting in the plot and everything tied-up entirely too neatly.
Thank you to Gallery Books for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
October 8, 2025
Dubb's sophomore novel is as sweet as honey! Penny is a beekeeper in her hometown and she's desperate to hold on to her family's farm. Zander has just moved back for the summer into the farm next door that he inherited from his grandfather. They didn't get along when they were kids and things aren't off to a good start now as adults. But together they'll plan a local honey festival that will hopefully get Penny's farm back into the black.
I loved this. I just have to point out that the queer rep for side characters here was fantastic! Zander's best friend is a trans woman who is now dating his ex-wife/coparent and the relationship between all three is so healthy! Penny's best friend is ace and fantastic. They are all three decent parts of the story and not mentioned just to get some queer rep in there. Loved it!
I loved this. I just have to point out that the queer rep for side characters here was fantastic! Zander's best friend is a trans woman who is now dating his ex-wife/coparent and the relationship between all three is so healthy! Penny's best friend is ace and fantastic. They are all three decent parts of the story and not mentioned just to get some queer rep in there. Loved it!
October 19, 2025
ARC REVIEW (thanks NETGALLEY!)
Meh book was fine. Nothing too memorable. It wasn’t a completely corny small town romance but there were way too many back stories for everyone. I wouldn’t market this as enemies to lovers since they’re really only meant to each other for a few pages, and as usual for basically no reason.
Meh book was fine. Nothing too memorable. It wasn’t a completely corny small town romance but there were way too many back stories for everyone. I wouldn’t market this as enemies to lovers since they’re really only meant to each other for a few pages, and as usual for basically no reason.
June 30, 2025
Had to read for work but cute
January 19, 2026
A very cute romcom! I enjoyed the characters and the setting, and the pov changes. The story was believable and leaned lighthearted, which is good depending on your mood. Overall, a solid read for when you want something fun and feel good.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
November 15, 2025
Sarah T. Dubb’s follow up to Birding with Benefits does not disappoint. Small town drama, family drama, personal growth, and bees. And it’s funny! It’s like Hallmark, but make it hot.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Zander finds himself back in the town where he spent his summers as a teen making a reputation for himself where he must face down his demons. One of them being perfect Penny Becker. But when his son takes a shine to the bee keeper, Zander volunteers to help Penny organize the annual honey festival. The more time they spend together, the closer they grow but will their relationship be able to exist when Zander returns to his life in Boston?
Birding with Benefits was a huge hit for me, so I was eager to read Dubb's newest book. I enjoyed spending the summer with Zander and Penny. They both had some baggage to unpack related to old wounds and some pressing issues.
Zander had spent summers with his cold grandfather when his mother was unable to care for him due to her mental health issues. He came back to Sullivan’s Glen to get his grandfather's home ready to sell while staying close to his son who was spending the summer with his ex and her family. Zander thought he had a lot of prove and wanted to show everyone how much he had grown and changed. I really like the surprises with respect to this storyline. It was sweet and feel-good. The type of stuff I love.
Penny came from a long line of women who had been done wrong by the men in their lives. Her ex left her with a huge debt putting the future of the farm in jeopardy. The success of the Honey Festival was a vital part of her plan to clear the debt and the pressure was mounting. I was glad she finally let someone help her. She lived her whole life feeling like she had to do everything by herself, and after trusting her ex-husband and that backfiring on her, she was leery of people offering any assistance. I felt bad for Penny and was overjoyed when things between her and Zander took off and she had him to lean on. In reality, they both needed someone to support them, and I was thrilled they found it in each other.
I am always down for a save the [insert place] plot, so this was great for me. I also loved being out on the farm and learning more about the bees. It was cute they way Zander's son took such a keen interest in the bees, and it was a great way to work all that information into the story. I am sure others will argue, but I loved the way Dubb wrapped this one up. It made me smile and filled me with glee. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this small town romance which was had fun and feelings galore.
*ARC provided by publisher
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Birding with Benefits was a huge hit for me, so I was eager to read Dubb's newest book. I enjoyed spending the summer with Zander and Penny. They both had some baggage to unpack related to old wounds and some pressing issues.
Zander had spent summers with his cold grandfather when his mother was unable to care for him due to her mental health issues. He came back to Sullivan’s Glen to get his grandfather's home ready to sell while staying close to his son who was spending the summer with his ex and her family. Zander thought he had a lot of prove and wanted to show everyone how much he had grown and changed. I really like the surprises with respect to this storyline. It was sweet and feel-good. The type of stuff I love.
Penny came from a long line of women who had been done wrong by the men in their lives. Her ex left her with a huge debt putting the future of the farm in jeopardy. The success of the Honey Festival was a vital part of her plan to clear the debt and the pressure was mounting. I was glad she finally let someone help her. She lived her whole life feeling like she had to do everything by herself, and after trusting her ex-husband and that backfiring on her, she was leery of people offering any assistance. I felt bad for Penny and was overjoyed when things between her and Zander took off and she had him to lean on. In reality, they both needed someone to support them, and I was thrilled they found it in each other.
I am always down for a save the [insert place] plot, so this was great for me. I also loved being out on the farm and learning more about the bees. It was cute they way Zander's son took such a keen interest in the bees, and it was a great way to work all that information into the story. I am sure others will argue, but I loved the way Dubb wrapped this one up. It made me smile and filled me with glee. Overall, I greatly enjoyed this small town romance which was had fun and feelings galore.
*ARC provided by publisher
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My favorite part of any romance isn't necessarily the romance itself, it's learning about the characters and how they nestle into the crooks of each others' lives. Honey Bee Mine did an wonderful job of exactly that. Sarah has a particular skill in writing flawed, realistic characters.
Penny is someone who, in theory, I am not able to understand at all (if anything, I am very much her mother - chronically type B and always putting blind faith in the universe). It's hard for me to understand my friends who can't sit still or find worth in productivity. I say all of that because somehow, Sarah made me get Penny. While I found her attitude frustrating (not due to writing - my own personality conflict!), I understood all of her choices, and how she was raised to think this way. I think it takes an incredibly skillful author to be able to reach someone so far removed from the character in this way, and I'm so impressed by her writing because of it.
Communication wise, this book is a breath of fresh air. I often find myself reading and wondering why the characters can't just talk to each other about something, and that wasn't the case here. I think making this a romance between two adults who are well on their way in life (vs young adults) allows the characters the life experience to express themselves to one another more clearly. Instead of wondering why Penny didn't want to tell Zander about her major conflict, I understood her motives and the way this big thing was eating her up inside, and I loved that RJ served as her voice of reason.
All in all, Sarah's characters are realistically written, diverse, unique, and each have a niche in the story that fits perfectly. I feel like we spent a lot of time with the cast and I loved how much depth they added to how well we knew Zander and Penny!
As a couple, Zander and Penny just work. Due to Zander's past, he needs someone to need him, and he's willing to work hard to help others. Penny, however, doesn't want to need anyone, so obviously she needs to learn how to rely on people and lighten her own load. I love the way their pain points blended so seamlessly with each other. In my opinion, that is the beautiful intersection where love sits: when your pain is able to be eased just by who someone else is at their core. I've reflected on this a lot in my own life, and it really hit home in Honey Bee Mine.
If your favorite romances are ones where communication and friendship are at their core, you learn a lot about a character and you get to watch an important turning point in their lives, and how another person meshes with them and they grow alongside each other, I can't recommend Honey Bee Mine enough!
Penny is someone who, in theory, I am not able to understand at all (if anything, I am very much her mother - chronically type B and always putting blind faith in the universe). It's hard for me to understand my friends who can't sit still or find worth in productivity. I say all of that because somehow, Sarah made me get Penny. While I found her attitude frustrating (not due to writing - my own personality conflict!), I understood all of her choices, and how she was raised to think this way. I think it takes an incredibly skillful author to be able to reach someone so far removed from the character in this way, and I'm so impressed by her writing because of it.
Communication wise, this book is a breath of fresh air. I often find myself reading and wondering why the characters can't just talk to each other about something, and that wasn't the case here. I think making this a romance between two adults who are well on their way in life (vs young adults) allows the characters the life experience to express themselves to one another more clearly. Instead of wondering why Penny didn't want to tell Zander about her major conflict, I understood her motives and the way this big thing was eating her up inside, and I loved that RJ served as her voice of reason.
All in all, Sarah's characters are realistically written, diverse, unique, and each have a niche in the story that fits perfectly. I feel like we spent a lot of time with the cast and I loved how much depth they added to how well we knew Zander and Penny!
As a couple, Zander and Penny just work. Due to Zander's past, he needs someone to need him, and he's willing to work hard to help others. Penny, however, doesn't want to need anyone, so obviously she needs to learn how to rely on people and lighten her own load. I love the way their pain points blended so seamlessly with each other. In my opinion, that is the beautiful intersection where love sits: when your pain is able to be eased just by who someone else is at their core. I've reflected on this a lot in my own life, and it really hit home in Honey Bee Mine.
If your favorite romances are ones where communication and friendship are at their core, you learn a lot about a character and you get to watch an important turning point in their lives, and how another person meshes with them and they grow alongside each other, I can't recommend Honey Bee Mine enough!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I went down a rabbit hole watching bee sex videos because of this book (by the way, it’s fascinating). I now feel like it might be my mission to educate the masses on bee endophalluses. And in my opinion, if an author can make me want to Google anything related to the content in their novel, then you KNOW I really enjoyed the story. Thus begins my relationship with Honey Bee Mine, a story about the salt of the earth bee keeper girl next door, Penny, and the closed off grouchy single dad who begrudgingly returns to the small town he grew up in to prepare his grandfather’s home for sale. Honey Bee Mine is so much more than a set of tropes, it’s about the way someone can burrow under your skin and really get to the heart of YOU. It’s about compensating for what you feel are your shortcomings and having a partner notice you are worthy regardless. It’s about struggling to be perfect and shielding the ones you love from your mistakes. And it’s also about showing up and believing you deserve good things. I laughed a lot reading Honey Bee Mine. Zander and Penny are so genuinely human and it’s a beautiful thing to see a man come undone for a woman.
Sarah T. Dubb writes desire and temptation so well and she has a knack for making you remember what it’s like to feel the sexy nervous energy of going on a first date and just wanting to jump someone’s bones. Zander and Penny have chemistry in spades leading to wonderfully good sex scenes. He has an obsession with her braids and she struggles every time his tshirts fit oh so perfectly and it’s a tremendous amount of fun to watch them engage.
Family and acceptance are also a crucial part of Zander and Penny finding their HEA and the side characters are just à la crucial to helping them find their potential as they are to each other. If you’re looking for a book that hits all the proverbial bases, of family, friendship, love, and intimacy, I know you’ll find enjoyment in Honey Bee Mine. I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Read for:
-Bee sex oh, and adult sex too
-Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird but make it an owl reference
-Perfectly fitting shirts
-“The Brads”-obnoxious dudes getting what they deserve
-Found family
-Small town being both the worst and the best thing
Sarah T. Dubb writes desire and temptation so well and she has a knack for making you remember what it’s like to feel the sexy nervous energy of going on a first date and just wanting to jump someone’s bones. Zander and Penny have chemistry in spades leading to wonderfully good sex scenes. He has an obsession with her braids and she struggles every time his tshirts fit oh so perfectly and it’s a tremendous amount of fun to watch them engage.
Family and acceptance are also a crucial part of Zander and Penny finding their HEA and the side characters are just à la crucial to helping them find their potential as they are to each other. If you’re looking for a book that hits all the proverbial bases, of family, friendship, love, and intimacy, I know you’ll find enjoyment in Honey Bee Mine. I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions are my own.
Read for:
-Bee sex oh, and adult sex too
-Stupid Canadian Wolf Bird but make it an owl reference
-Perfectly fitting shirts
-“The Brads”-obnoxious dudes getting what they deserve
-Found family
-Small town being both the worst and the best thing
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Honey Bee Mine is an absolute joy!
Sullivan's Glen is somewhere in small-town USA which has that everyone-knows-everything vibe that is both the best and the worst. Penny Becker is a beekeeper who looks after her farm and her family - three generations of strong and single women. Penny works and works. She keeps it all together, but she has secrets – her farm is in trouble and she needs the proceeds from the local Honey Festival to help with the debt. In comes chef Zander Bouras who has inherited the farm next door. He spent summers in Sullivan's Glen as an angry young teen and he has regrets and baggage. Zander is back because his ex-wife and young son have moved there and he wants to see his son over the summer. There is a lot more going on of course, but the important thing is that these are mature people (in their mid-thirties) getting themselves together as they fall in love.
The editor in me sees how well crafted this is - both Zander and Penny are trapped by their histories and by the stories they tell themselves. Zander has done the work to rise above his angry troublemaker teen self, while Penny is still immersed in the expectation that she is the good girl who will hold it all together. Zander and Penny pair up to run the Honey Festival and as they prepare for it, they spend time together and unwrap each others' hurts by allowing themselves to be open and truthful. There is a ticking clock as they count down to the festival, and to Zander leaving Sullivan's Glen.
Their banter is funny and so natural - nothing feels scripted. I love Penny's vulnerability, and Zander is so self-aware. Zander's son is prickly and combative, but nothing like as self-destructive as Zander in his teenage years, and luckily, he loves the bees! There's also lots of queer representation that doesn't serve as plot points.
While Honey Bee Mine hits all the beats for a romance, there are also many extra layers and nuances, and truths. A warm sticky heartfelt hug of a read 🐝
If you love authors Tarah Dewitt and BK Borison, you'll adore this! Thank you Sarah T. Dubb and Gallery Books for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Sullivan's Glen is somewhere in small-town USA which has that everyone-knows-everything vibe that is both the best and the worst. Penny Becker is a beekeeper who looks after her farm and her family - three generations of strong and single women. Penny works and works. She keeps it all together, but she has secrets – her farm is in trouble and she needs the proceeds from the local Honey Festival to help with the debt. In comes chef Zander Bouras who has inherited the farm next door. He spent summers in Sullivan's Glen as an angry young teen and he has regrets and baggage. Zander is back because his ex-wife and young son have moved there and he wants to see his son over the summer. There is a lot more going on of course, but the important thing is that these are mature people (in their mid-thirties) getting themselves together as they fall in love.
The editor in me sees how well crafted this is - both Zander and Penny are trapped by their histories and by the stories they tell themselves. Zander has done the work to rise above his angry troublemaker teen self, while Penny is still immersed in the expectation that she is the good girl who will hold it all together. Zander and Penny pair up to run the Honey Festival and as they prepare for it, they spend time together and unwrap each others' hurts by allowing themselves to be open and truthful. There is a ticking clock as they count down to the festival, and to Zander leaving Sullivan's Glen.
Their banter is funny and so natural - nothing feels scripted. I love Penny's vulnerability, and Zander is so self-aware. Zander's son is prickly and combative, but nothing like as self-destructive as Zander in his teenage years, and luckily, he loves the bees! There's also lots of queer representation that doesn't serve as plot points.
While Honey Bee Mine hits all the beats for a romance, there are also many extra layers and nuances, and truths. A warm sticky heartfelt hug of a read 🐝
If you love authors Tarah Dewitt and BK Borison, you'll adore this! Thank you Sarah T. Dubb and Gallery Books for the ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to Gallery Books for the gifted copy of Honey Bee Mine. I loved it so much and have so many thoughts, so let’s jump right in!
Read for:
Small town romance
Beekeeper x restauranteur
Single dad
Opposites attract
Honey Bee Mine is a small town romance between a beekeeper, Penny, and a Boston-based restaurateur, Zavier, who’s spending the summer in Sullivan’s Glen to stay close to his ex-wife and son while they help her parents. Zavier used to spend summers here as a teen and developed a bit of a bad boy rep before running off with his (now ex) wife, so coming back means facing some old demons.
Both main characters are working through deep-seated abandonment issues, so if you like romances with strong emotional and personal growth alongside the love story, this is absolutely the one for you! Zavier in particular is impressively self-aware and emotionally mature. Throughout the book you actually see him use tools he’s learned in therapy — wanting to react, wanting to shut down or lash out, and consciously choosing healthier responses. It felt realistic rather than performative and we need more of this in romance books!! I noticed later that the book is dedicated to the author’s therapist, which makes a lot of sense!
The town itself is absolutely charming, and the quirky cast of characters (a staple in great small town romance) is phenomenal. Among this cast, there’s tons of representation, and it’s done in a way that feels meaningful rather than tokenizing — racial diversity, an ace characters, a bisexual character, a trans woman — many who play important roles in the story and in the emotional arcs of the main characters.
Also, the beekeeping element is a fun bonus! You see Penny tending to the hive, conducting bee removals, collecting honey, all that stuff. If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of bee removal instagram, you’ll definitely be familiar with some of the beekeeping aspects of the book, and you’ll probably enjoy them!
I couldn’t stop grinning when I finished this book, and everything I tried to pick up after fell flat because I loved this one so much. Can’t recommend it enough!
Read for:
Small town romance
Beekeeper x restauranteur
Single dad
Opposites attract
Honey Bee Mine is a small town romance between a beekeeper, Penny, and a Boston-based restaurateur, Zavier, who’s spending the summer in Sullivan’s Glen to stay close to his ex-wife and son while they help her parents. Zavier used to spend summers here as a teen and developed a bit of a bad boy rep before running off with his (now ex) wife, so coming back means facing some old demons.
Both main characters are working through deep-seated abandonment issues, so if you like romances with strong emotional and personal growth alongside the love story, this is absolutely the one for you! Zavier in particular is impressively self-aware and emotionally mature. Throughout the book you actually see him use tools he’s learned in therapy — wanting to react, wanting to shut down or lash out, and consciously choosing healthier responses. It felt realistic rather than performative and we need more of this in romance books!! I noticed later that the book is dedicated to the author’s therapist, which makes a lot of sense!
The town itself is absolutely charming, and the quirky cast of characters (a staple in great small town romance) is phenomenal. Among this cast, there’s tons of representation, and it’s done in a way that feels meaningful rather than tokenizing — racial diversity, an ace characters, a bisexual character, a trans woman — many who play important roles in the story and in the emotional arcs of the main characters.
Also, the beekeeping element is a fun bonus! You see Penny tending to the hive, conducting bee removals, collecting honey, all that stuff. If you’ve ever fallen down the rabbit hole of bee removal instagram, you’ll definitely be familiar with some of the beekeeping aspects of the book, and you’ll probably enjoy them!
I couldn’t stop grinning when I finished this book, and everything I tried to pick up after fell flat because I loved this one so much. Can’t recommend it enough!
January 21, 2026
Oh my gosh! This romance is precious, y'all. I loved Dubb's first book, Birding with Benefits, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually love this book more! That's how good it was. Zander and Penny were such a realistic, loving couple and I was totally in love with both of them.
So the gist of the book is this: Zander is a former bad-boy who left his small town when he was 18 and never looked back. Penny just so happened to be a girl in that small town who had a reputation for basically being the "girl next door" and who never made a wrong move. Fast forward 17 years and while Penny never left Sullivan's Glen (she runs her family's beekeeping and orchard business!), Zander is unfortunately back to sell his grandfather's house (who lives next door to Penny) and spend time with his tween son that he co-parents with his ex-wife. (Btw, the situation between him, his best friend, and his ex-wife is hysterical and I loved it.) Anyway, the more time Zander spends in the small town with Penny, the more he realizes he was wrong about so many things that happened in his childhood.
Honestly, I think my favorite aspect of this romance was Dubb's use of personal growth as a theme to be both admired and reflected on. Both Zander and Penny both go on transformative journeys in this book, and I loved watching two character mature and grow together as not only a couple, but as individuals. Dubb is an excellent writer and has a knack for putting into words some of the more complicated emotions we tend to feel in life and relationships. Her prose is absolutely beautiful.
A lot of small-town romances follow the same formula, but honestly, this romance felt like a breath of fresh air. The side characters, the townspeople, etc. were all written so realistically. I also adored Dubb's use of family dynamics. I've only cried with two other contemporary romances, but this book makes the third! The tension, the emotion--all of it was so well done. I can't recommend this book enough.
So the gist of the book is this: Zander is a former bad-boy who left his small town when he was 18 and never looked back. Penny just so happened to be a girl in that small town who had a reputation for basically being the "girl next door" and who never made a wrong move. Fast forward 17 years and while Penny never left Sullivan's Glen (she runs her family's beekeeping and orchard business!), Zander is unfortunately back to sell his grandfather's house (who lives next door to Penny) and spend time with his tween son that he co-parents with his ex-wife. (Btw, the situation between him, his best friend, and his ex-wife is hysterical and I loved it.) Anyway, the more time Zander spends in the small town with Penny, the more he realizes he was wrong about so many things that happened in his childhood.
Honestly, I think my favorite aspect of this romance was Dubb's use of personal growth as a theme to be both admired and reflected on. Both Zander and Penny both go on transformative journeys in this book, and I loved watching two character mature and grow together as not only a couple, but as individuals. Dubb is an excellent writer and has a knack for putting into words some of the more complicated emotions we tend to feel in life and relationships. Her prose is absolutely beautiful.
A lot of small-town romances follow the same formula, but honestly, this romance felt like a breath of fresh air. The side characters, the townspeople, etc. were all written so realistically. I also adored Dubb's use of family dynamics. I've only cried with two other contemporary romances, but this book makes the third! The tension, the emotion--all of it was so well done. I can't recommend this book enough.
January 29, 2026
First, Sarah T. Dubb had me deeply invested in birding. This time around she had me fascinated by beekeeping. I hope she always finds these niche interests to craft her romances around.
The characters in this book were so well-crafted and realized in their histories, traits, and personalities. Penny was someone who internalized a lot of her own needs and struggles in order to the be the person who always had everything together for everyone else. The various reasons for that from her past, all the way back to childhood, were both heartbreaking and realistic catalysts for why she would develop such an aversion to letting others help her. It created such an opportunity for character growth and added a layer of depth to her relationship with Zander (and his own character) as he became someone who, quite frankly, wouldn’t allow her to carry it all herself anymore. To use that to shift to Zander: he had his own painful past and was introduced as someone who had grown before making his return to the small town where he had spent his summers. He was a good man with his own struggles that he was still working through as he was forced to face his past. He was also a great father and coparent, which truly seemed to help him also become a good partner.
Aside from the main characters, after two books I feel I can say with confidence that Sarah always takes care to create and develop incredibly strong secondary characters to support both her story and her main characters. Her secondary characters add to the richness of her stories and never read like filler material. There were so many vital people who were a part of both Penny and Zander’s lives separately and ultimately together. They all also helped inform the histories of Penny and Zander in a multitude of ways.
This book was such a delight to read. Thank you to Gallery for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The characters in this book were so well-crafted and realized in their histories, traits, and personalities. Penny was someone who internalized a lot of her own needs and struggles in order to the be the person who always had everything together for everyone else. The various reasons for that from her past, all the way back to childhood, were both heartbreaking and realistic catalysts for why she would develop such an aversion to letting others help her. It created such an opportunity for character growth and added a layer of depth to her relationship with Zander (and his own character) as he became someone who, quite frankly, wouldn’t allow her to carry it all herself anymore. To use that to shift to Zander: he had his own painful past and was introduced as someone who had grown before making his return to the small town where he had spent his summers. He was a good man with his own struggles that he was still working through as he was forced to face his past. He was also a great father and coparent, which truly seemed to help him also become a good partner.
Aside from the main characters, after two books I feel I can say with confidence that Sarah always takes care to create and develop incredibly strong secondary characters to support both her story and her main characters. Her secondary characters add to the richness of her stories and never read like filler material. There were so many vital people who were a part of both Penny and Zander’s lives separately and ultimately together. They all also helped inform the histories of Penny and Zander in a multitude of ways.
This book was such a delight to read. Thank you to Gallery for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Title: Honey Bee Mine
Author: Sarah T. Dubb- I read Birding with Benefitsand gave it 4⭐
Publication date: 2-10-26 | Read: 2-6-26
Format: e-Book 320 pgs.
Genre:
*Contemporary Romance
*Women's Fic
Tropes:
*small town
*summer festival
*neighbors
*enemies to lovers
*homecoming after years away
*coparenting/single dad
*family drama
*friends with benefits
*LGBTQIA+ rep
POV: 3rd person
TW: parental abandonment, parental estrangement, transphobia, financial woes. MH issues, addiction
Setting: Sullivan's Glen, NY
Summary: Penny's bee farm is in financial strains, and she hopes to cash in at this year's summer festival in Sullivan Glen. Zander has returned home with his ex-wife and son to renovate and sale his inheritance-his grandfather's farmhouse. With Zander's experience opening restaurants in Boston, he agrees to help her with the festival where sparks fly between them.
Heroine: Penny Becker-34, beekeeper
Hero: Zander Bouras-35, restaurateur
Other Characters:
*Winter-Zander's son, 11
*Mallory Robinson-Zander's ex-wife, girlfriend Quinn-Zander's BFF
*Ruth-Penny's mother
*Cynthia-Penny's g-mother "Mimi"
*Candace-Mallory's mother
*RJ-Penny's BFF, a baker
*Elsie-Zander's mother, has MS
*Nikolai Bouras-Zander's grandfather-deceased
My Thoughts: This was full of spice between Penny and Zander. They had a "friends with benefits" relationship that changed into something serious. Zander had past trauma with his family to reconcile-especially with his mother and grandfather. I loved Zander's relationship w/ Winter and his ex-wife who dated his BFF.
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐
Spice level: 5/5 open door, explicit🔥
Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Sarah T. Dubb for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
Author: Sarah T. Dubb- I read Birding with Benefitsand gave it 4⭐
Publication date: 2-10-26 | Read: 2-6-26
Format: e-Book 320 pgs.
Genre:
*Contemporary Romance
*Women's Fic
Tropes:
*small town
*summer festival
*neighbors
*enemies to lovers
*homecoming after years away
*coparenting/single dad
*family drama
*friends with benefits
*LGBTQIA+ rep
POV: 3rd person
TW: parental abandonment, parental estrangement, transphobia, financial woes. MH issues, addiction
Setting: Sullivan's Glen, NY
Summary: Penny's bee farm is in financial strains, and she hopes to cash in at this year's summer festival in Sullivan Glen. Zander has returned home with his ex-wife and son to renovate and sale his inheritance-his grandfather's farmhouse. With Zander's experience opening restaurants in Boston, he agrees to help her with the festival where sparks fly between them.
Heroine: Penny Becker-34, beekeeper
Hero: Zander Bouras-35, restaurateur
Other Characters:
*Winter-Zander's son, 11
*Mallory Robinson-Zander's ex-wife, girlfriend Quinn-Zander's BFF
*Ruth-Penny's mother
*Cynthia-Penny's g-mother "Mimi"
*Candace-Mallory's mother
*RJ-Penny's BFF, a baker
*Elsie-Zander's mother, has MS
*Nikolai Bouras-Zander's grandfather-deceased
My Thoughts: This was full of spice between Penny and Zander. They had a "friends with benefits" relationship that changed into something serious. Zander had past trauma with his family to reconcile-especially with his mother and grandfather. I loved Zander's relationship w/ Winter and his ex-wife who dated his BFF.
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐
Spice level: 5/5 open door, explicit🔥
Thanks to NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Sarah T. Dubb for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
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