He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox ~ Book Review

About the Book 

Book: He Should Have Told The Bees

Author: Amanda Cox

Genre: Christian Fiction Contemporary

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: August 29, 2023

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.

My Thoughts 

If you have never read an Amanda Cox book then you are truly missing out. The way she writes is so compelling and full of depth. I would not consider her stories light reads but man, they take you in this journey that truly tugs at your heart. 

In this book we meet many characters but at the forefront is Beekeeper Beckett Walsh and Callie Peterson. Two very different women with very similar backgrounds unbeknownst to them. Immediately you meet Beckett. She breathes and lives the farm life especially the bees. Immediately you can tell that she suffers from extreme anxiety. She doesn't leave the farm at all and chooses to live in the bubble that her father has created for her all these years.

Callie on the other hand has different struggles of her own. She didn't have the best life and has moved multiple times. She struggles with belonging and trust in the relationships around her. Circumstances bring these two characters together and they journey and learn from each other how to trust and be courageous enough to face their circumstances. I won't divulge much because then I would be giving the story away, so you really need to read the book. 

However, let's talk about the side characters. I absolutely loved Luke. He was Callie's friend. He's one of those friends that you need in your life. You can tell that he likes Callie but he was not pursuing her that way. He was just there for her and encouraging her every step of the way. Beckett had people around her too but I absolutely loved spunky Fern. She was definitely needed in the story as she provided those moments of laughter when things got too heavy.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It is definitely full of emotions and will tug at your heart. There is a light thread of faith that flowed seamlessly throughout the story. There are hints of romance but this book is truly not about that at all. If you are looking for a new contemporary fiction story I suggest you grab this one... actually grab all of her other books as well! You will love them!

I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Amanda Cox is the author of The Edge of Belonging and The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery, both of which were the Christy Award Book of the Year in 2021 and 2022, respectively. She holds a bachelor's degree in Bible and theology and a master's degree in professional counseling, but her first love is communicating through story. Her studies and her interactions with hurting families over a decade have allowed her to create multidimensional characters that connect emotionally with readers. She lives in the foothills of Tennesee with her husband and their three children.