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Bumblebee Season
From Eileen Garvin, nationally bestselling author of The Music of Bees and Crow Talk, a heartwarming new story that returns to the vibrant world of beekeeping in a small Oregon town
Beekeeper Jake Stevenson should be celebrating. His fledgling honey farm has been inundated with orders. Instead, Jake is worried. He can’t seem to hire anyone—with local teens more interested in jobs at Hood River’s hip waterfront—and there’s no way he can do it all by himself, no matter how adept he’s become at maneuvering among the beehives in his wheelchair.
Meanwhile Flaco López, a young migrant from Mexico, is lost on Mount Hood when he stumbles upon Jake’s beehives in a high alpine meadow. As Flaco takes refuge on Jake’s farm, they begin to form a tentative friendship. And the two soon cross paths with Abigail Plue, a scientist more interested in insects than people, who’s on Mount Hood studying a threatened native bumblebee.
Then a local rabble rouser begins to rally support to build a commercial hunting camp that would destroy Mount Hood’s pristine wilderness—the home of Jake’s honeybees and Abigail’s beloved bumblebees. And Jake, Abigail, and Flaco must come together to protect everything they hold dear. Full of warmth, big-hearted characters, and a celebration of nature in all its complexity, Bumblebee Season reminds us that human connection might just be the most powerful force there is.
Beekeeper Jake Stevenson should be celebrating. His fledgling honey farm has been inundated with orders. Instead, Jake is worried. He can’t seem to hire anyone—with local teens more interested in jobs at Hood River’s hip waterfront—and there’s no way he can do it all by himself, no matter how adept he’s become at maneuvering among the beehives in his wheelchair.
Meanwhile Flaco López, a young migrant from Mexico, is lost on Mount Hood when he stumbles upon Jake’s beehives in a high alpine meadow. As Flaco takes refuge on Jake’s farm, they begin to form a tentative friendship. And the two soon cross paths with Abigail Plue, a scientist more interested in insects than people, who’s on Mount Hood studying a threatened native bumblebee.
Then a local rabble rouser begins to rally support to build a commercial hunting camp that would destroy Mount Hood’s pristine wilderness—the home of Jake’s honeybees and Abigail’s beloved bumblebees. And Jake, Abigail, and Flaco must come together to protect everything they hold dear. Full of warmth, big-hearted characters, and a celebration of nature in all its complexity, Bumblebee Season reminds us that human connection might just be the most powerful force there is.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
June 20, 2026
I enjoyed Bumblebee Season almost as much as I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Music of Bees. It was easy to sink back into these characters, and genuinely gratifying to spend more time with them. The addition of Flaco López lets Garvin bring a fresh angle to the story, expanding beyond Jake's disability and into the undocumented migrant experience. I loved revisiting the existing characters, but this one could easily be read as a standalone too.
Some readers will likely find the political undercurrents a bit heavy handed, but I found it to be beautifully written, and I'm already looking forward to whatever Garvin writes next.
Read this if you like:
* books that challenge your perspective or social awareness
* stories of found family
* nature as a character
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Some readers will likely find the political undercurrents a bit heavy handed, but I found it to be beautifully written, and I'm already looking forward to whatever Garvin writes next.
Read this if you like:
* books that challenge your perspective or social awareness
* stories of found family
* nature as a character
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2025
Eileen Garvin returns to Jake and Alice, the main characters from her debut novel "The Music of Bees," the tender story about beekeepers in Hood River, Oregon. This is a good time to honor the world of beekeeping, what with the non-stop demise of bees worldwide. Jake is now the 23-year old Jacob. He and Alice have become business partners of the highly successful Queen of G Honey Farm. Their story is not only a deep-dive into beekeeping and honey farming, it's also about the terror of undocumented Mexican farmworkers and the dichotomy between those who strive to protect our natural world and those who want to destroy it for their own self-serving desires. Kudos to Garvin for yet again sharing her love of the natural world, her respect for the real Jacob's and Alice's beekeepers, and her page-turning writing skills.
October 5, 2025
This may be the most timely book ever written. it’s based a one of her previous novels featuring Jake who I loved, but you don’t have to have read the previous novel to read this. The story was so good- well written and informative and scary and ever so timely. My heart was racing the whole time I was reading and I couldn’t put it down. I loved Abigail -who deserves her own book someday!
If I were the publishers, I would put this out right now.. In the future, this will be THE book that people read when they don’t believe what happened.
If I were the publishers, I would put this out right now.. In the future, this will be THE book that people read when they don’t believe what happened.
February 11, 2026
Bumblebee Season is a tender, powerful story about resilience, belonging, and the quiet strength found in both nature and community. It beautifully explores what it means to overcome hardship, celebrate differences, and continue moving forward even when the world feels unkind.
While the vital role of bees and their impact on our environment is thoughtfully woven throughout the narrative, the novel also courageously addresses immigration and the human stories behind it—highlighting how difficult it can be to find one’s footing in a new place, and how equally difficult it can be to feel truly accepted, regardless of age, race, or work ethic. Jacob’s struggle to find help for his harvest amid attacks and detentions of immigrants and migrant workers serves as a reminder of how essential immigrants are to the fabric of our communities.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its use of three distinct points of view. Each perspective feels unique and authentic, yet they are seamlessly connected through shared hopes, fears, and humanity, creating a layered and emotional reading experience.
Important, timely, and deeply moving, Bumblebee Season is the kind of book that lingers long after the final page. In today’s climate, I believe it is a must-read, and I wholeheartedly recommend that readers pick it up with open hearts and give it the thoughtful attention it deserves.
While the vital role of bees and their impact on our environment is thoughtfully woven throughout the narrative, the novel also courageously addresses immigration and the human stories behind it—highlighting how difficult it can be to find one’s footing in a new place, and how equally difficult it can be to feel truly accepted, regardless of age, race, or work ethic. Jacob’s struggle to find help for his harvest amid attacks and detentions of immigrants and migrant workers serves as a reminder of how essential immigrants are to the fabric of our communities.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its use of three distinct points of view. Each perspective feels unique and authentic, yet they are seamlessly connected through shared hopes, fears, and humanity, creating a layered and emotional reading experience.
Important, timely, and deeply moving, Bumblebee Season is the kind of book that lingers long after the final page. In today’s climate, I believe it is a must-read, and I wholeheartedly recommend that readers pick it up with open hearts and give it the thoughtful attention it deserves.
May 20, 2026
I was so excited to read this 2026 sequel to Garvin’s 2022 debut hit The Music of Bees. Unfortunately, this iteration was just okay.
The first book is about Alice, Jake, and Henry—an unlikely trio who find acceptance and familial love via their shared passion for bees. Together, they take on the Big Tobacco of beekeeping: Pesticides. It is a heartwarming story that doesn’t feel political.
Sadly, this one does—and tries to take on All the Things in the process. In addition to environmental preservation and bee factoids (like the first book), this one also attempts to tackle immigration, absentee fathers, sacrificial mothers, neurodivergence, forest fires, hunting, vegetarianism, bilingualism, sanctuary cities and states, and a caricature of the Political Right. (Think: local gun-toting candidate and their followers who 4-wheel all over people’s lawns—and their dogs, steal and replace their opponent’s political signs, talk down to anyone who appreciates nature and/or science, and hates all immigrants.) The brush is a broad one for sure, but I suppose Garvin needs it to be in order to make all of her premises work. Ironically, I agree with much of what Garvin is conveying here; however, if I didn’t, I’d be more turned off by her broad brush than won over by any plot points here.
And any one of these issues would’ve made for a good book, but trying to take on all of them is next to impossible. As evidenced here.
In addition, Alice, the character who brings everyone together in the first book, is largely off-page for this one. This continuation is set a few years later, and Alice heads on a well-deserved vacation while handicap-able Jake is left to try to recruit for the honey harvest. Replacing Alice is a slew of characters—too many to track—that are not only unnecessary, they detract from the central characters’ stories.
I really enjoyed the first book and would’ve been okay having buzzed on by this one. 🐝 😎 The first book was great and honestly didn’t need a sequel.
Or at least not this one.
************************
MY RATING SYSTEM
★★★★★ (5 stars): Loved it. New favorite. Already recommending it to anyone who will listen.
★★★★☆ (4 stars): Really liked it. A solid read I’d happily recommend.
★★★☆☆ (3 stars): Liked it. Glad I read it, but it probably won’t live rent-free in my head.
★★☆☆☆ (2 stars): Not for me. Finished it, but mostly out of sheer readerly stubbornness. Felt like a job.
★☆☆☆☆ (1 star): Hard pass. Loathed or DNF’d. So many books, so little time.
The first book is about Alice, Jake, and Henry—an unlikely trio who find acceptance and familial love via their shared passion for bees. Together, they take on the Big Tobacco of beekeeping: Pesticides. It is a heartwarming story that doesn’t feel political.
Sadly, this one does—and tries to take on All the Things in the process. In addition to environmental preservation and bee factoids (like the first book), this one also attempts to tackle immigration, absentee fathers, sacrificial mothers, neurodivergence, forest fires, hunting, vegetarianism, bilingualism, sanctuary cities and states, and a caricature of the Political Right. (Think: local gun-toting candidate and their followers who 4-wheel all over people’s lawns—and their dogs, steal and replace their opponent’s political signs, talk down to anyone who appreciates nature and/or science, and hates all immigrants.) The brush is a broad one for sure, but I suppose Garvin needs it to be in order to make all of her premises work. Ironically, I agree with much of what Garvin is conveying here; however, if I didn’t, I’d be more turned off by her broad brush than won over by any plot points here.
And any one of these issues would’ve made for a good book, but trying to take on all of them is next to impossible. As evidenced here.
In addition, Alice, the character who brings everyone together in the first book, is largely off-page for this one. This continuation is set a few years later, and Alice heads on a well-deserved vacation while handicap-able Jake is left to try to recruit for the honey harvest. Replacing Alice is a slew of characters—too many to track—that are not only unnecessary, they detract from the central characters’ stories.
I really enjoyed the first book and would’ve been okay having buzzed on by this one. 🐝 😎 The first book was great and honestly didn’t need a sequel.
Or at least not this one.
************************
MY RATING SYSTEM
★★★★★ (5 stars): Loved it. New favorite. Already recommending it to anyone who will listen.
★★★★☆ (4 stars): Really liked it. A solid read I’d happily recommend.
★★★☆☆ (3 stars): Liked it. Glad I read it, but it probably won’t live rent-free in my head.
★★☆☆☆ (2 stars): Not for me. Finished it, but mostly out of sheer readerly stubbornness. Felt like a job.
★☆☆☆☆ (1 star): Hard pass. Loathed or DNF’d. So many books, so little time.
May 27, 2026
This is one of a new kind of fiction, which includes the issues arising from the Trump administrations punitive policies. The story, about beekeepers and researchers, also focuses on the struggles of Latino migrants in the US, and for me, brings the news stories to life with the effects on ordinary people.
May 4, 2026
Super biased reviewer here, but this really is an objectively good read. The people (readers far and wide) wanted more of Jake from The Music of Bees and Garvin produced this similarly complex tale of Jake and two new characters set in the author's backyard of Hood River. The scenery and setting are rich, from Jake's apiary below towering Mount Hood, to the little towns on the way where the bees are busy supporting fruit trees. There's political intrigue with the mayoral candidate who's influencing ICE-like nabbings of immigrants, while the good guys are helping Jake's new housemate Flaco get his paperwork in order to apply for a green card. Flaco made his way up from Mexico, as so many do, despite many trials and dangers, ending up in Jake's acreage of bee boxes. This vulnerable youngster is easy to root for, as he struggles with loneliness and culture shock amid the kind folks (mostly) of Hood River. The third new character is Abigail, also supremely likeable despite her pokey edges of neurodivergence and awkwardness. We learn loads about various types of bees (there are sooo many types) along with and from Abigail, and we also witness her learning to make her way in the world as a young adult in the college setting. The writing flows beautifully and the story sucks one in. Definitely recommend!
February 4, 2026
Sadly this one was so rough for me to get into. The first chapter was great and was extremely hopeful and intrigued by Abigail’s story but the multiple POVs did not keep the same pace which made it really hard to read. As soon as a POV would find momentum it would switch to another POV where it just lost all of that good pacing.
I typically do love multiple POVs but the characters didn’t get a chance to develop and felt pretty limited in their dimensions. I would’ve loved to know more about Ruby, about Jake’s accident and recovery, Flaco’s mother and father’s relationship, and what Abigail’s insights into her neurodivergence was. Were there no interventions earlier in her life and she couldn’t control her emotions in a social setting yet was in college with no explanation on whether she had any supports or accommodations. It just felt there were a lot of questions set up then never answered.
The social commentary was also incredibly too close to unfolding events with ICE brutality. So please know there is a huge plot involving a character similar to Ammon Bundy that is very anti-immigration.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for review.
I typically do love multiple POVs but the characters didn’t get a chance to develop and felt pretty limited in their dimensions. I would’ve loved to know more about Ruby, about Jake’s accident and recovery, Flaco’s mother and father’s relationship, and what Abigail’s insights into her neurodivergence was. Were there no interventions earlier in her life and she couldn’t control her emotions in a social setting yet was in college with no explanation on whether she had any supports or accommodations. It just felt there were a lot of questions set up then never answered.
The social commentary was also incredibly too close to unfolding events with ICE brutality. So please know there is a huge plot involving a character similar to Ammon Bundy that is very anti-immigration.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for review.
June 9, 2026
A bit disappointing. I loved both Crow Talk and The Music of Bees. This was too preachy for me - even though I align with the author the issues she portrayed, I found myself rolling my eyes a few too many times. As with her previous books - lovely descriptions of the WA/OR Columbia River Gorge area, so maybe it will be an eye-opener for those not living here.
June 4, 2026
Embarrassed I didn’t realize until halfway through that “OSU” was referring to Oregon State University and not Ohio State University.
Cheesy… 2.75?
Cheesy… 2.75?
May 8, 2026
She writes so sensitively about her characters. Such a wonderful book.
February 2, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️My review: This book is written from the points of view of three lonely people: Jacob, a wheelchair bound bee keeper/honey producer; Abigail, a neurodivergent scientist studying bees; and Flaco, a 14 year old Mexican boy sent to find work and safety in Oregon.
Their paths collide and converge in Jacob's territory as they try to save the wilderness around them from construction.
My heart ached for Flaco. He is a child who is scared and alone. Issues with immigration and documentation and cruel officials in town made me hold my breath. So timely. Abigail's chapters were fascinating. Seeing the world from her eyes-what makes sense to her, what confuses her, how she has to handle social situations, was at times funny and at times frustrating. Jacob's business is taking off but he needs help, and protecting Flaco and his land is a tall order.
There is a lot of bee information in this book obviously, and a lot (a huge amount) of scenery description. At times I skimmed these paragraphs to get to the storyline. Overall, great characters that came together. People I wanted to help and listen to, and those are characters in a story worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.
Their paths collide and converge in Jacob's territory as they try to save the wilderness around them from construction.
My heart ached for Flaco. He is a child who is scared and alone. Issues with immigration and documentation and cruel officials in town made me hold my breath. So timely. Abigail's chapters were fascinating. Seeing the world from her eyes-what makes sense to her, what confuses her, how she has to handle social situations, was at times funny and at times frustrating. Jacob's business is taking off but he needs help, and protecting Flaco and his land is a tall order.
There is a lot of bee information in this book obviously, and a lot (a huge amount) of scenery description. At times I skimmed these paragraphs to get to the storyline. Overall, great characters that came together. People I wanted to help and listen to, and those are characters in a story worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for an advance digital copy. These opinions are my own.
November 1, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up to a 4.
I really did enjoy the book. I was in it til the last chapter. I find bees pretty fascinating, so that paired with both a wheelchair bound MMC and a young immigrant boy, and a smart woman on the spectrum, this book touched an so many nuanced areas of life and did it well. I enjoyed all the characters and the ways they developed. My biggest qualm was jumping back and forth from different narrators. It wasn’t chronological and towards the end got confusing. I couldn’t remember where we left off with each story…and one even seemed out of order. It made it feel choppy rather than a seamless storyline weaving together.
That said, I really did enjoy this read and would read something again by this author. Thanks to Dutton and Netgallery for the ARC in exchange for me honest review.
I really did enjoy the book. I was in it til the last chapter. I find bees pretty fascinating, so that paired with both a wheelchair bound MMC and a young immigrant boy, and a smart woman on the spectrum, this book touched an so many nuanced areas of life and did it well. I enjoyed all the characters and the ways they developed. My biggest qualm was jumping back and forth from different narrators. It wasn’t chronological and towards the end got confusing. I couldn’t remember where we left off with each story…and one even seemed out of order. It made it feel choppy rather than a seamless storyline weaving together.
That said, I really did enjoy this read and would read something again by this author. Thanks to Dutton and Netgallery for the ARC in exchange for me honest review.
May 2, 2026
I've read both The Music of Bees and Crow Talkby Eileen Garvin and enjoyed them immensely, so it was no surprise that Bumblebee Season was right up my alley.
In Bumblebee Season we find environmental and social issues set on the backdrop of nature and academia. Garvin populates her book with diverse cast of characters, disabled, neurodivergent, undocumented immigrants, all of whom are fully fleshed.
Bumblebee Season continues Jake Stevenson's story along with his dog Cheney which began in Music for the Bees. We meet the wonderful Abigail who is an entomologist who is on the autism spectrum and follow 14 year old Flaco from Michoacán, Mexico to Hood River, Oregon. The story moves between the three main characters.
I can see that readers who do not have an interest in bees may not appreciate all of the information about them which Garvin laces into her book, but I love this.
In Bumblebee Season we find environmental and social issues set on the backdrop of nature and academia. Garvin populates her book with diverse cast of characters, disabled, neurodivergent, undocumented immigrants, all of whom are fully fleshed.
Bumblebee Season continues Jake Stevenson's story along with his dog Cheney which began in Music for the Bees. We meet the wonderful Abigail who is an entomologist who is on the autism spectrum and follow 14 year old Flaco from Michoacán, Mexico to Hood River, Oregon. The story moves between the three main characters.
I can see that readers who do not have an interest in bees may not appreciate all of the information about them which Garvin laces into her book, but I love this.
May 30, 2026
This was a wonderful story about home and belonging and resilience told from the point of view of three people near Mount Hood in Oregon. Jake Stevenson is a young man who has become part owner of a successful beekeeping operation. He is a wheelchair user, and has been left in charge of that year's honey harvest while his business partner is on a trip. Abigail Plue is a grad student in entomology who has been assigned to a research group and is doing her first fieldwork on Mount Hood, searching for a specific type of bumblebee. The third person is Flaco, a 14 year old Mexican boy who has been sent north by his mother to escape the cartel takeover of his village and find his cousin in Mount Hood. Their lives intersect in a world heavily affected by post-2016 politics and attitudes.
I didn't read The Magic of Bees, but it's not necessary for this book. We get enough of Jake's backstory and his history with the bees to understand his feelings and motivations. I really enjoyed how she wove in information about the bees, history of the area, and other explanations without it feeling just stuck in. There are a few depictions that are a bit on the nose, but they are easy enough to overlook. The overall story is not always linear, but each person's storyline is. I really enjoyed this read and would pick up another book by Eileen Garvin without question.
I didn't read The Magic of Bees, but it's not necessary for this book. We get enough of Jake's backstory and his history with the bees to understand his feelings and motivations. I really enjoyed how she wove in information about the bees, history of the area, and other explanations without it feeling just stuck in. There are a few depictions that are a bit on the nose, but they are easy enough to overlook. The overall story is not always linear, but each person's storyline is. I really enjoyed this read and would pick up another book by Eileen Garvin without question.
April 30, 2026
Book Report: Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin
Set against the lush backdrop of Oregon…Bumblebee Season follows a beekeeper struggling to keep up with his growing farm…a young migrant searching for stability and a scientist devoted to protecting a threatened species. As their lives intersect…they’re drawn together by a shared connection to the land and a fight to protect it. 🐝🌲✨
I absolutely adored Eileen Garvin’s The Music of Bees…so I was thrilled to pick up this follow up. While you do get glimpses of familiar characters…this truly stands on its own with the same rich Oregon setting and love for the world of beekeeping.
Eileen has such a gift for creating memorable characters and those quiet…heartfelt moments that stay with you. This story is full of small community vibes…hope…and a deep appreciation for nature…plus so many fascinating details about bees.
If you’re looking for a slower…more reflective read…something that makes you want to get your hands in the dirt…step outside…or simply reconnect….this is such a lovely one to pick up.
Thank you @prhaudio @duttonbooks for the gifted copies.
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
Set against the lush backdrop of Oregon…Bumblebee Season follows a beekeeper struggling to keep up with his growing farm…a young migrant searching for stability and a scientist devoted to protecting a threatened species. As their lives intersect…they’re drawn together by a shared connection to the land and a fight to protect it. 🐝🌲✨
I absolutely adored Eileen Garvin’s The Music of Bees…so I was thrilled to pick up this follow up. While you do get glimpses of familiar characters…this truly stands on its own with the same rich Oregon setting and love for the world of beekeeping.
Eileen has such a gift for creating memorable characters and those quiet…heartfelt moments that stay with you. This story is full of small community vibes…hope…and a deep appreciation for nature…plus so many fascinating details about bees.
If you’re looking for a slower…more reflective read…something that makes you want to get your hands in the dirt…step outside…or simply reconnect….this is such a lovely one to pick up.
Thank you @prhaudio @duttonbooks for the gifted copies.
Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...
June 18, 2026
A solid three stars!! Enjoyable read, yet dare I say, there was too much here. Abigail's story was the weakest, which saddens me after reading the author's personal connection (a sister with autism). I really enjoyed Jake's growth but missed Alice; perhaps this book also romanticized child labor a little bit?? lol? The "bad guys" were a bit too cartoonishly evil for me. I saw some criticism about "too much bee talk" - that did not bother me. I love learning a bit about my place in the world (PNW) and also appreciated the history of racism that Jake learns from this book.
All that said, I will always be Team Pre-Order for Eileen Garvin!! P.S. RUBY SUCKS!!!! (but I'd also love a redemption story for EG#4)
All that said, I will always be Team Pre-Order for Eileen Garvin!! P.S. RUBY SUCKS!!!! (but I'd also love a redemption story for EG#4)
April 29, 2026
A gentle story of resilience and belonging replete with empathy, compassion and respect for one another as part of our natural environment centers around a wheelchair-bound young beekeeper in Oregon. Our beekeeper, a researcher in apian matters from OSU and fourteen year old undocumented boy explore their connections and learn how to find their people to have a happy life. Absolutely charming. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
June 4, 2026
I was so excited for a continuation of ‘The Music of Bees’, but this one fell flat in comparison for me!
While I appreciated the themes of the book, I found myself missing Alice, wanting more of Abigail, and yearning for more talk about bees! The beginning was strong, but the second half of the book draaagged. I will absolutely still read more from this author; the writing is beautiful! This story just wasn’t for me I guess
While I appreciated the themes of the book, I found myself missing Alice, wanting more of Abigail, and yearning for more talk about bees! The beginning was strong, but the second half of the book draaagged. I will absolutely still read more from this author; the writing is beautiful! This story just wasn’t for me I guess
Did Not Finish
March 17, 2026I think this is truly wrong book, wrong time. It has great themes woven in, but I had such a hard time following the POV changes, and eventually found myself so disengaged that I didn’t care what happened. This book deserves more than I can give it at the moment.
I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.
I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.
April 29, 2026
A struggling bee keeper, a young boy fleeing the drug lords in Mexico, and a socially misunderstood scientist who is obsessed with bumblebees (but definitely not honey bees. Possibly the most unlikely of trios. As their lives intertwine and friendships form, they come to question what makes a family, a community? This was a beautiful, heartfelt take that will stick with a reader. I loved the audiobook for the different voices of each character.
May 7, 2026
I really loved this book. Probably a 4.5 star book. There were times I didn’t want to stop listening to it. The multiple narrators were amazing and I loved the story. It’s written from everyone’s individual perspectives which draws you in even more. You quickly care about every main character. I’ll look up other books from this author.
May 16, 2026
Love, love, loved this book. It was so good to read and see how the characters from her previous book were doing and how they meshed in with the new characters. I love how the author incorporated so much of nature into her books. I've read 3 of hers so far and they all are high up on my favorites list.
June 7, 2026
I just love Eileen Garvin’s books. This one goes back to the same setting as The Music of Bees, and it felt like revisiting friends I haven’t seen in a while.
4 stars instead of 5 because I had to skim read some of the parts with the Dewitt father and son. They read true to life and I could not stand them (though their eventual takedown was satisfying).
4 stars instead of 5 because I had to skim read some of the parts with the Dewitt father and son. They read true to life and I could not stand them (though their eventual takedown was satisfying).
May 10, 2026
Wow. What a timely book given everything happening with ICE. But scary too that this has been ramping up since 2019. I feel like I just got a peek at the beginning stages of the Christian nationalism, xenophobia, racism, violence and cruelty that has flared into full-fledged wildfires in this country since Trump’s Jan 2025 inauguration. But I don’t want to be sidetracked into that negativity because this book is a positive light and tells the story of one kid who makes his way to Oregon from Mexico and I hope opens readers’ hearts to the humanity of immigration. This book renewed my faith in the common good and decency of most Americans. Only 77 million voted for this disastrous regime and we need to remember the other 280+ million of us outnumber them. This country is made up of immigrants and we would do well to not let the billionaire class divide us over social and cultural issues. We are all more alike than different-we are all human.
May 27, 2026
I liked the information about bees. The story was okay. I felt like it was a little disjointed. Yes all sorts of people in an area but I didn’t feel like their lives were really connected other than living in the same area or coming to the same area.
June 2, 2026
I enjoyed that this book was set in Oregon and being familiar with all the locations that were talked about. I did not like the scientific part behind the bees, that was hard to follow. I really felt for Abigail and her challenges in social settings. But damn, there were some sprinklings of political issues in here… and kinda over took the books theme of bees.
June 25, 2026
Interesting story that follows several different people with a tangential relationship to each other. I thought they would be brought together more for as long as the book is but it didn't quite do that. It was OK but this wasn't what I wanted it to be.
May 19, 2026
Great representation in this novel. I like the immigration story and how current events were woven into the story.
June 7, 2026
This was just a nice book! I liked the plot and the themes. Two vastly different people (a disabled owner of a honey farm and a 14 year old immigrant from Mexico) form a bond and friendship. The end just made me feel good.
Nice vibes! 4/5 stars
Nice vibes! 4/5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews