THE MUSIC OF BEES

Lately I have been craving a respite from sweeping, epic stories in favor of uplifting ones that are smaller in scale, but filled with humanity and heart. If you enjoy those kinds of stories too, I wholeheartedly recommend The Music of Bees, a touching novel about three ordinary people whose unlikely friendship lifts them through their respective moments of darkness. Struggling with anxiety and stuck in a thankless office job, Alice turns to her growing beekeeping business for solace. When she hires two solitary young men who have their own personal challenges, this unexpected trio discovers that their fascination with bees and their surprising connection to each other just may lead them to a path forward.

This moving and optimistic debut novel is the kind of gem that thoroughly deserves its ongoing word-of-mouth buzz (forgive the pun). I rooted for these quirky characters and enjoyed watching their friendship grow, woven through with a message of acceptance, courage and empathy. This story - and the bees themselves - deftly remind us that with the strength of community, the whole is indeed greater than the sum of its parts.

Naturally there is plenty of honey in this story! I was most smitten with Harry’s cinnamon buns drizzled with honey from a cafe in Hood River, Oregon, where the story takes place. This is an old Betty Crocker recipe that uses bisquick - who knew? - and I happened to have some in my pantry from another book post.