I loved this book. I wasn’t sure that I would because sometimes “bestsellers” turn out to be more hype than quality, but not this book. The underlying theme of bees throughout was beautiful, and I fell in love with the calendar sisters, especially August (of course). But what got me most were the main character Lily’s feelings of abandonment, anger, and low self-worth. When you lose a parent to death or abandonment, those feelings all whirl around inside you, sometimes all at once. I was amazed to read in the interview with the author at the back that she had both of her parents growing up.

Now I’m wishing I hadn’t borrowed this but had bought a copy for myself to keep!