REVIEW: HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD THE BEES by Amanda Cox

 Hey everyone! This review is for He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox. If you haven't seen my reviews for her other two books, you'll know that every time I read one of hers, I go "now this is my favorite book by Cox." Well. 

This is my favorite book by Cox. 

Although I'm hearing rumors of a 2024 release that will probably gain the same praise. Stay tuned.

Before I start gushing any more, check out some info on the book below:

ABOUT THE BOOK

Beekeeper Beckett Walsh is living her dream, working alongside her father in their apiary, until his untimely death sends her world into a tailspin. She suddenly finds she must deal with a new part owner of the family business--one who is looking to sell the property. Beck cannot fathom why her father would put her into the position to lose everything they built together.

When Callie Peterson is named in the trust of a man she's never heard of, she's not sure what to do. Her fledgling business has just taken wing and her mother has reentered her life asking for help getting into rehab for her lifelong substance abuse issues, making Callie's financial situation rather . . . precarious. She's sure she has no right to someone else's farm, but the money from the sale could solve her problems and give her the stability she's always craved.

As these two women navigate their present conundrum, they will discover a complex and entangled past full of secrets--and the potential for a brighter future for both of them.

AMAZON | GOODREADS | BAKER BOOK HOUSE

THE AUTHOR

Amanda Cox is a blogger and a curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization, but her first love is communicating through story. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers.

WEBSITE

MY REVIEW

For a long time, I was Beckett. I hated going away from home and struggled with severe anxiety over doing so. I've overcome that by God's grace, but reading Cox's character really reminded me of that and how awful it was. She does an excellent job of treating such struggles with grace while still being realistic. This book is one that keeps you reading simply because you're never quite sure how the story will turn out, and you just really want to see both MCs succeed. Her parallels with the bees and the two MCs are impeccable, and this book is something that's worth rereading simply to soak in the depth of the themes. A lot of forgiveness and healing elements in this story too, which are two themes I love to read. She incorporates faith elements, characters that you absolutely love, some faint romantic subplots (which are THE. BEST.) and again, a lot of hard-hitting, deep themes. I tried to keep notes of my favorite quotes and just gave up because there are too many. I could gush forever about this book, but then I'd spoil it. I just loved it SO much, and if you're a fan of contemporary books, pick this one up. Even if you don't enjoy contemporaries...this one might convert ya.