Bumblebee Season

by Eileen Garvin

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.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook, Nature, Adult Fiction, Immigration, Adult

400 pages, Hardcover

First published April 21, 2026

Reviews

[vicki honeyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Carol Scheherazade · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alyssa Short · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️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.

[Emmy 🔮 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Jordan Good · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

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...

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jordan Caldwell]

I 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.

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jennifer Winters · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

She writes so sensitively about her characters. Such a wonderful book.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up. Bumblebee season revisits the landscape of the authors first book, Music of the Bees. Jake Stevenson, five years later, is a master beekeeper and the co-owner of a honey farm. Jake, in a wheelchair, defies many notions people have regarding disabilities. He is confident, professional, has romantic interests and a good life. There are new characters in this novel, Abigail , who is neurodivergent and working with the OSU lab on bumblebee research and Flaco a 14 year old boy who has made his way to Oregon from Mexico.
I am impressed by the author's knowledge of bees, it adds substance to the story. The characters are well developed and the Oregon setting was perfect. The pacing felt a little off it was slow until the last third. The themes of disabilities, the environment, immigration and community were expertly braided to create an interesting story. A good stand alone, it isn't necessary to read the first novel to enjoy this one.
Thank you to Netgalley for a copy to read and review.

[Margie Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are very interested in the details of beekeeping and honey production, you are the right audience for Bumblebee Season, Eileen Garvin's follow-up to The Music of Bees (2002). Of course, the book is much more than a beekeeping textbook, although the technical side may be too much for more casual readers (including myself).

One of the protagonists, 23-year-old Jake, had an unnecessary accident years go that put him in a wheelchair, Searching for meaning in his life, he happened upon a fortyish beekeeper, Alice, who ultimately took him on as a partner in her business producing honey for restaurants in the area and beyond. But this year, the harvest season is coming soon, and Jake has no one to help him harvest the honey, as Alice is out of town with her "man-friend" for months and others who have helped him before are not available.

The bumblebees of the title, as opposed to Jake's honeybees, are the subject of a field group from a local university who are trying to determine whether a certain type of those bees can be found in a particular area of Oregon, to ensure they are protected. Entomologist Abigail, also in her twenties, was transferred from her assistant professor job at the university to the aforementioned field group after she has yelled at her students and treated them without respect--Abigail is neurodivergent, though she doesn't know that yet. She is, however, intelligent and dedicated, with no tolerance for others in the group who are not. And Flaco, a 14-year-old boy with limited English skills, travels from Mexico to Oregon when his mother feels he is in danger of being recruited by unsavory gangs near his home.

How Jake, Abigail, and Flaco come together for their mutual benefit is the gist of the plot. The main characters do develop throughout the book, although it is slow-going and often overshadowed by events such as a massive fire, immigration dangers, and family issues. not to mention a fraught political race for a new sheriff. I personally enjoyed the previous book with its theme of "found family," and felt this one got too bogged down. But Garvin is a talented writer with a lot of potential for future books.

My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of this book.

[Alex Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

"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."

This one was...intriguing and interesting, The different POV's from these three people + different walks of life was good, but I also feel like it missed the mark in really developing who these characters were in the book. We really see how they lean on each other to get through their own difficult seasons that they're in. I NEEDED to know about Jake's accident and how his recovery went, and we didn't get that. I also felt like even though we know Abigail is neurodivergent, we didn't see it FULLY, if that makes sense. I also wanted to know more about Flaco's family background and kinda what his parent's dynamic/relationship was too.

The book definitely touches on some heavy topics too. Obviously immigration & having disabilities/being different.Not necessarily trigger warnings perse, just something to watch for while you're reading the book.

The author adds touches about bees throughout the entire book, which was an amazing add, obviously because of the title. 🐝

"In the case of solitary bees, the queen creates her nest, lays her eggs and raises her offspring without the assistance from any other bees. The majority of the earth's bee species are solitary."

"Many bee species can tolerate colder temperatures thanks to their ability to thermoregulate with endotherm, or rapid muscle movement."

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my copy of this digital ARC. All opinions are my own and my review reflects as such. 🐝🍯

[Michelle Mallette · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this third novel and a sequel to The Music of Bees, author Garvin returns to Hood River, OR, and the world of beekeeping. Jake Stevenson is now a full partner in Queen of G Honey, Alice Hoffman’s beekeeping success story. Alice is largely missing from this novel as the focus is on Jake who is trying to meet unexpected demand for their honey after a surprise win at a foodie festival. Harvest season is coming, and Alice is travelling in Alaska. When the friends who’d promised to help Jake have to back out, he’s on his own and struggling as he slowly recovers from a broken heart. As he tries to keep up with the physically demanding hive work as a beekeeper with a disability, Jake meets two other lonely souls. One is Flaco, a young Mexican boy sent north by his mother to protect him from the cartel plucking young men out of the villages. Flaco is just 14, making him an undocumented minor, and deeply homesick. The other is Abigail, a neurodivergent master’s student studying bumblebees in a field study adjacent to Queen of G’s alpine apiary, a bit of a field project in itself. How their paths intersect and how these three find support and acceptance is a story full of heart, kindness, frustration and community. It’s also a condemnation of current immigration policies and racism, an environmental call to action, and a celebration of advances in beekeeping to support beekeepers in wheelchairs that are also better for honeybees. You learn so much about beekeeping; I found it fascinating and can now have much richer conversations with my beekeeping friends (yes, I have more than one!). The plot moves slowly, but authentically as the characters struggle and make mistakes but hold fast to their ideals, always. Garvin’s passion for bees and the natural world, and her strong moral compass combine to create a story of resilience, belonging, and community responsibility that feels so Canadian I had to doublecheck that she was born in Washington and lives in Oregon! My thanks to Dutton Books for the advance reading copy provided digitally through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Jennifer Wurges byrnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton for the eARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved The Music of Bees (Garvin's debut novel from 2021) and was happy to return to Hood River Valley, Oregon and the world of beekeeping in Bumblebee Season.

Bumblebee Season takes place five years after The Music of Bees. You don't necessarily need to have read The Music of Bees first as this book can be read as a stand alone. It mentions characters from Music but Garvin describes enough of the previous events that you're not lost, or, if you've already read Music, simply need a reminder of the events that took place.

The book follows the stories of Abigail, a neurodivergent grad student who is trying to find her place in the world; Flaco, a 14-year-old boy whose mom sends him from the danger of his Mexican town to the United States to meet up with his cousin; and Jake, a 23-year-old master beekeeper who co-runs the business Queen of G with his partner Alice, who is on vacation for the duration of the book.

Garvin has done an outstanding job in her research and writing of the main themes of the book: bees, beekeeping, immigration from Mexico, Autism and neurodivergence, and what it's like to be handicapped and in a wheelchair. I learned so much about bees and beekeeping. But the book is about so much more than bees. It's a political statement of the times and Garvin did a very good job of portraying what we are experiencing in the country right now. I love the heart she puts into each and every character and plotline.

The only thing I thought was out of place was the character of Ruby, Jake's ex-girlfriend. I see why Garvin had to add in a source of rejection for Jake because it plays to his character arc, but I would have liked to know more about her and their relationship, and also about her motivations for leaving. I felt like I was missing something I should have remembered from The Music of Bees, but as far as I can tell she wasn't a character in that book. This part of the story felt unfinished to me. Perhaps Garvin is going to tell her story in an upcoming book.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Deceptive Cover, A Deeply Moving Story: A Review of Bumblebee Season
It is easy to judge a book by its cover, and Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin is the perfect example of why you shouldn't. From the packaging alone, I went into this novel expecting a breezy, lighthearted rom-com set against the backdrop of a sunny, picturesque bee farm. It promised a gentle, predictable read—the kind of story meant to be consumed in a single afternoon.

But what I found was something entirely different, and far more rewarding.

The Premise
Instead of a standard romance, Garvin delivers a rich, multi-layered narrative that is as complex as the ecosystem it depicts. While the setting—a bee farm—is indeed central to the plot, it serves as the foundation for a much heavier, more grounded exploration of life.

The Themes
The true heart of Bumblebee Season lies in its willingness to tackle weightier subjects with grace and nuance:

Immigration and Migrant Labor: The book shines a necessary spotlight on the realities of migrant workers, treating their stories with dignity and depth rather than using them as mere background noise.

The World of Agriculture: Garvin writes about the land and the industry with a palpable sense of respect, making the mechanics of farming feel intimate and essential.

The Ties that Bind: At its core, this is a story about family. Whether it is the family we are born into or the one we build out of necessity and connection, the character arcs are deeply resonant and authentic.

The Verdict
What makes Bumblebee Season so special is the bait-and-switch. By luring the reader in with the promise of "cozy," Garvin creates a space to discuss the complexities of the human experience. It is a wonderful, unexpected tale that balances the harsh realities of life with the enduring hope of connection.

If you are looking for a book that will surprise you—a story that feels grounded, insightful, and profoundly human—this is a must-read. Don't be fooled by the cover; pick this one up for the soul, not just the aesthetic.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

[Ashley Cohoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5 stars)

This was one of those books that I really appreciated more than I fully loved, if that makes sense.

Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin weaves together multiple storylines around bees, community, and some pretty heavy real-world issues. At its core, it’s about connection- between people, between humans and nature, and how we all kind of rely on each other to get through difficult seasons.

The story follows three main characters: Jake, who’s trying to keep his beekeeping operation afloat; Abigail, an entomologist navigating both her career and her neurodivergence; and Flaco, a young immigrant trying to find safety and stability. I liked how their stories eventually intersect, and there’s definitely a strong “found family” feel running through everything.

One of the standout parts for me was how much you learn while reading. There’s a lot about bees, pollination, and environmental impact woven into the story, which was really interesting, but I’ll be honest, at times it did feel a little heavy and slowed the pacing down for me.

The multiple POVs were a bit of a mixed bag. I liked getting different perspectives, but just when I’d start getting really invested in one storyline, it would switch, and I felt like I never fully settled into any one character as deeply as I wanted to. Still, each perspective added something meaningful, especially when it came to the social themes the book explores.

This book also doesn’t shy away from tougher topics, immigration, disability, belonging, and systemic challenges, and I appreciated that. Some moments felt really powerful and timely, even if they made the story feel a little heavier overall.

In the end, this wasn’t a super fast or easy read, but it was thoughtful, emotional, and quietly impactful. If you like character-driven stories with environmental themes and a bit of social commentary, this is definitely worth picking up.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sheila The Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up on NetGalley because that cover immediately caught my eye. It’s so bright and vibrant, and as someone who loves bees and has actually kept them before, the premise really pulled me in.

This follows Jake, a beekeeper trying to manage his honey farm, along with Flaco, a young migrant who ends up on his land, and Abigail, a scientist studying a threatened bumblebee species nearby. Their paths come together around both the land and the bees, and there are some nice themes here around community and the natural world that I did appreciate.

I’ll be honest though, this one just didn’t fully click for me. I found it good, but not something I felt strongly connected to. I really enjoyed the parts that focused on bees, especially learning more about bumblebees since most of my own experience is with honeybees. That was probably my favorite aspect, but I also know I have a bit of an unusual interest there, so I’m not sure that will land the same way for everyone.

The pacing was the biggest challenge for me. It’s very slow, and I started to feel that around the 30% mark. I almost put it down, but stuck with it. It does get where it’s going, and there is some meaningful messaging along the way, but it takes its time getting there. The chapters are also quite long, which made it harder to read in smaller chunks and didn’t really give me natural stopping points.

I can absolutely see this finding the right readers, and I did appreciate what it was trying to do. For me, it was probably a case of right book, wrong time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary advanced e-book. All opinions are my own.

[Rachel b00ksrmagic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to @duttonbooks and @netgalley for the gifted e-ARC and to @prhaudio for the ALC!

Read this book if you like found family, immigrant stories, disability rep, autism rep, and nature.

Jake is a beekeeper whose farm in the shadow of Mt Hood, Oregon, has suddenly become famous. He has more orders than he can fill. Unfortunately, he has no hired help for the summer harvest and even with the accommodations for his wheelchair, he can’t do it alone. Flaco is an undocumented Mexican teen alone in a country where he knows no one and barely speaks English. He wants to find work but doesn’t know who to trust. Abigail is a grad student participating in a field survey to locate a rare bumblebee. Her neurodivergence makes people hard to understand. But she loves insects. These three separate characters’ worlds collide when a local political candidate’s anti-conservation, anti-immigrant rhetoric stirs up trouble. The three unlikely friends must band together to protect the people and places they love.

This story is beautifully written with characters so lifelike I felt like they were all my new best friends. I was rooting for them through their struggles and celebrating their triumphs. The relationships they built were powerful and real. The setting for this one is gorgeous with sparkling descriptions of the beauty of the Oregon wilderness. I also loved the glimpses into the distinct cultures of the three characters. And the POV descriptions of living with disability or neurodivergence. There is so much hope in this book, despite heavy subject matter. It’s definitely worth reading.

The three audiobook narrators were excellent, each narrating the chapters from their character’s POV and giving them distinct accounts and voices. The sound quality was excellent even at 2x speed.

[Aubrey DeJesus · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Bumblebee Season” is a heartwarming story of friendships, persevering through adversity, and bees!

This story follows three main characters that intersect throughout the story: Abigail, a neurodivergent working at the University in the Honeybee Lab in search of a possibly extinct bumblebee, Jake, a beekeeper looking for help on the crux of his biggest honeyflow season to date, and Flaco, an undocumented minor fleeing his hometown in Mexico in search of his cousin and work.

You can tell the author knows a lot about bees, and I learned way more than I anticipated about all kinds of bees than I expected before I started reading. I really liked how prominent minorities were in this book; Abigail is neurodivergent, Flaco is an undocumented Mexican minor, and Jake is paraplegic (to name just the main characters).

There was a lot of detail explained about the topography and cities in this corner of Oregon, which made you feel like you were there in Oregon as well alongside them in the apiaries.

I didn’t feel like the ending gave the reader full closure to what the characters were working towards throughout the book, and even though near the end there was a great climax, the ending felt a little flat comparatively. However, what the story lacked in plot, it made up for in the characters.

This book is a companion book to her other novel, and while you really didn’t need to read it to appreciate this one, I think I would have preferred to read that one first and get a better understanding of some of the main characters.

Thank you to Dutton and NetGalley for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin

My sincere thanks to Dutton and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book. I give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

This book follows three main characters: Jacob who is a young businessman and beekeeper who is also a paraplegic; Flaco, an undocumented minor from Mexico who Jacob is helping; and Abigail a neurodivergent young woman who is part of a research team working not far from Jacob's farm to locate a rare bumblebee species. As each character was being introduced, I was excited to see how they would connect. The point of view changes from one to another of these three characters and it takes a while before they truly converge. There is a lot going on between Jake trying to manage his biggest honey season yet without enough workers, Flaco trying to find his place and waiting to figure out how he will be able to stay, and Abigail trying to get along with her team as well as do what she loves. There is a political slant to this story regarding ICE and immigration, as well as a lot of statistics and facts worked in about immigration and of course raising bees. Some parts of the book were a little slow going and I felt bogged down while reading. This book was different than I expected it to be and after finishing, I found out that it is actually a follow-up to an earlier book by Eileen Garvin. I think I might have understood some of the characters better had I read it first even though this book is a stand-alone read. This book was not really my cup of tea however I will definitely tell others who I think would enjoy it to give it a try.

[Lauren Bayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is always the season for caring about community and the natural world. And Garvin makes it so easy to care deeply about her characters.

I wanted to give Flaco a hug so many times throughout reading. The fourteen-year-old undocumented immigrant was truly the stand-out character as he learns to navigate the United States. Garvin put SO MUCH RESEARCH into the story, writing the ins and outs of applying for protection in Oregon in 2019. The author clearly has a deep respect for the Latinx community in Oregon, and it shows in every page with all of the intricacies presented. Of course Garvin's research also extended to beekeeping and native pollinators, and her love for the art of beekeeping was also present throughout the story. I loved the inclusion of native bees, the oft-neglected yet all-too-important pollinators! Garvin's adoration for all aspects of Oregon runs deep.

While I did not know that this was the sequel to Garvin's previous novel, readers can still enjoy and love the characters in Bumblebee Season. You miss a little context, but it is more than made up for with the new characters building new relationships with the already-established Queen of G crew. I had a couple of other notes, mostly about how Abigail was established, but the rest of the story and characters were so strong that I don't even want to write about my notes.

2026 audiences absolutely need this story. In light of ICE raids and racist dog whistles, this book is a beacon of light.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Lisi Bee (Beth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story follows three separate characters, whose storylines converge: Abigail (neurodivergent entomologist who studies bees), Jake (honey farmer and paraplegic), and Flaco (14-year-old migrant worker sent alone from Mexico by his fearful mother). The book was engaging right from the start, and all of the characters had such distinct personalities. Even though it revisits characters from the author's previous books, I hadn't read them and this one worked very well for me as a standalone. I had no trouble following along with the storyline. I loved watching how all three characters impacted the others in, and how all of them benefitted and grew from knowing one another. There were a *lot* of bee and immigration facts packed into this charming story. Although it was a little heavy on info in places, the level of detail definitely gave the story depth. The author writes very knowledgeably and has clearly done her research. There was more tension in this book than I expected, with strong themes of social justice and environmentalism woven into the plot lines. They were handled well, and gave the story gravity. Definitely check content warnings for heavier themes. I think you'll enjoy this book if you're looking for a story that has strong found family vibes, a sense of inclusion and compassion, with a satisfying conclusion. Publishes April 21, 2026. This review is based on a complimentary DRC of the book, all opinions are my own.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between 3.5 and 4 stars. I really enjoyed this!

I really liked following the stories of Abigail, Jake, and Flaco, Abigail especially. I liked that they all had their own things going on but intersected at various points. It was interesting to see their perspectives on things. I also learned a lot about bumblebees and honeybees - not in a way that felt like a lecture or an infodump, but from an enthusiastic friend.

I struggled with the storyline surrounding immigration and the political commentary. Don't get me wrong - I'm 1000% in agreement with Garvin's position here (that we learn through her characters) but I got confused on how it intertwined within the book. The story seems to follow two paths: one is the bumblebee and honeybee discussions, protected lands and caring for these creatures, and the other is hardcore racism and xenophobia. They felt opposed in a way - Flaco's journey was heartbreaking to read but it didn't weave into Jake and Abigail's stories neatly. I don't know - maybe the hard juxtaposition was the point. But to me I struggled.

Overall though - I really enjoyed my time in Mount Hood!

Thank you to NetGalley, Eileen Garvin, and Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Sharlene N · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘽𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙚𝙚 𝙎𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 tells the story of three lonely people-- Jacob, a young wheelchair bound bee keeper/honey producer, Flaco, a 14 year old Mexican boy sent to the US from Mexico alone to find work and safety, and Abigail, a neurodivergent scientist who is studying bees. Their stories come together in the sweetest of ways.

Flaco's POV was my favorite. As a mom of a 14 YO boy myself, my heart ached for him so much and I found myself tearing up as he is left alone to figure out his new life in America, scared and unsure of what to do or who to trust.

Overall, the plot really goes deep into a lot of political territory - immigration laws, treatment of federal land, conservation, etc., but I found that actually really worked for me in this case. The story treats many sensitive subjects with care and sensitivity.

If you don't mind your books to have a good heaping of social commentary, I would recommend this timely novel. Also, for some reason, this beautiful cover is giving off romance vibes (maybe just me?), but this is not a romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton Publishing for access to this eARC.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been a fan of Eileen Garvin since I read her book “The Music of Bees.” I was thrilled to be approved to read an early copy of her new book “Bumblebee Season.” This book revisits the beekeeping world in Oregon inhabited by Jake Stevenson and others from “The Music of Bees.”

The author introduces the reader to Abigail Plue and Flaco López. Abigail is in the graduate program at a nearby university. She is also neurodivergent. Flaco is a teenager who was sent to the United States by his mother in Mexico.

Jake, Abigail, and Flaco cross paths on Mount Hood. Jake is checking on honeybee hives he set-up in a meadow, as part of an expansion related to his farm. Abigail is setting up a camp to look for a threatened bumblebee.

This book is timely in its coverage about the challenges facing bees, as well as those groups of people who are being villainized by some in the United States. There were parts of the story towards the end that were on the thrillerish side, but I loved how the author ended things.

Overall, I recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

[wopphicreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bumblebee Season by Eileen Garvin begins as a heartwarming story about three characters navigating adversity before unfolding into a powerful political reckoning. Set against the backdrop of Oregon’s Mount Hood, the novel explores the impact of climate change on bees and other pollinators while confronting the influence of industries that profit from environmental harm.
At its center is Flaco, a teenage migrant traveling alone from Mexico in search of safety. Alongside him are Abigail, whose determination challenges a world that underestimates her, and Jacob, still healing from heartbreak while caring for the bees that once saved him.
Garvin’s writing is both wry and compassionate, never preachy, yet unafraid to tackle injustice. She also exposes how governments malign migrants and normalize harmful rhetoric.
This novel is a moving meditation on resilience, empathy, and the courage it takes to protect both people and the natural world.
This review is made possible by NetGalley and Dutton for supplying the advanced reader copy.