Between You, Me, and the Honeybees by Amelia Diane Coombs Book Review

Title: Between You, Me, and the Honeybees
Author: Amelia Diane Coombs
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 
Release Date: June 22, 2021
Pages: 368

Josie Hazeldine has just graduated from high school, and she’s ready for a summer full of sunshine, beekeeping, and…lying to her mom.

Josie’s mom couldn’t be more proud of her daughter going to college, something she never got to do. But Josie wants to stay in her California hometown and take over the family business, Hazeldine Honey. So that college acceptance her mom is thrilled about? Yeah, Josie turned it down. But she’s going to come clean—just not yet.

The neighbor’s artsy, adorable grandson who’s in town for the summer makes Josie’s web of lies even more tangled. He’s into Josie and the feeling is very mutual, but he’s a Blumstein—the sworn enemy of the Hazeldines and their number one competition in the annual Honey Show at the end of July. As their secret fling goes on, Josie knows she’s getting in way too deep to leave him behind when summer’s over.

Can Josie keep the boy she can’t stop thinking about without the secrets she’s juggling crashing down around her?

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My Thoughts

**Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**

All Josie wants to do is take over Hazeldine Honey, her family business and shop, but her mom has other plans for her: college. But she turned down the acceptance and still hasn't told anyone including her mom.

Long live the queen? Yeah, not so much. More like off with her head.

Then Ezra shows up in front of her, throwing her entire summer plan off course. Although she's attracted to him, she knows that he's off-limits because he's the grandson of her business rival. 

It's refreshing and wonderful; I'm more comfortably and authentically myself than I have been in a long time. All because of Ezra.

What happens when the two start to fall for each other? Another secret is on Josie's back for her to carry. When will all secrets become exposed?

Star Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

This book was so cute! I've never read a book about bees and beekeeping so it was a new experience that was definitely exciting. 

I found Josie's character to be relatable. She struggles with anxiety and worries about many things normal teenagers would. Her grandmother was also diagnosed with Alzheimer's and the fear of losing her grandma added to her worries.

Overall, Between You, Me, and the Honeybees was an interesting read about Josie's summer after her senior year of high school. Between taking care of bees, friend troubles, and sneaking out on dates, I enjoyed this upcoming book.

You can learn more about Alzheimer's here.

About the Author

Amelia Diane Coombs writes books for young adults. Back in the day, she majored in English and went on to receive her MFA in creative writing. Now, she writes unlikable female protagonists, positive mental health representation, and swoony romances with soft boys. She’s a Northern California transplant living in Seattle, Washington, with her partner and their Siberian cat. When she isn’t writing or reading, Amelia happily fills her days with beekeeping, card and tabletop games, hiking, and volunteering with cats. She’s the author of Keep My Heart in San Francisco and Between You, Me, and the Honeybees.