Jesus I was not prepared for the emotional reaction I had to this book. It's incredibly powerful and emotive and i just don't have any other words for it. Definitely recommend

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This is a unique "love story" following the adulterous relationship between Ana and Connor, both of which are married with children. After Connor dies unexpectedly Ana has to come to terms with the loss of a relationship that only existed in the shadows.

Here is the Beehive is writing in a snappy prose style, I found the writing impactful and easy to follow even though the author jumped in and out of time periods.

This novel has the ability to make you contemplate on the complexity of a relationship that is solely based on lies and secrecy. We are seeing the relationship through the eyes of the mistress so we are left with unanswered questions about the true extent of Connor's feelings for Ana and 'what could have beens'.

I read this in one sitting and found it hard to put down, I highly recommend as quick read!

<i> This review in exchange for a free copy via Netgalley.</i>

Written in an unusual format this gripping tale of love infidelity and death takes the reader to the eyes of the husband wife and mistress .... not your usual love story

Told in verse, this is the story of a married woman grieving for her deceased lover.

This doesn’t feel like a wholly original story but it’s certainly original in its telling. I loved the verse, it flowed so well and served to emphasise the emotional aspect beautifully.

The characters are often unlikeable but it’s still easy to feel for them. It feels simple yet there are certainly layers to it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Here is the Beehive is an utterly heartbreaking and devastating read that plays with the reader's emotions, Expertly crafted, it's one that needs to be added to your to-read list.

I have absolutely loved everything written by Sarah Crossan and so was very much looking forward to reading her first verse novel for adults. It's saddening, as all her books are, but I think I found her YA novels ultimately more moving. Perhaps this is because of the youth of the main characters - when bad things happen, it feels so much worse when they happen to young people. I still found this completely compelling and the dark twistiness of Ana's mind was a slightly unnerving place to spend some time in. Definitely one for adult readers. Oh, and that cover is just so beautiful!

This is the first book I have read by this author. I really enjoyed the style of writing and though not my usual genre, thoroughly enjoyed it.

It is difficult for me to describe this book but it is about a love affair over many years and how it affects the two families involved, particularly when Connor dies. Very sad but difficult to stop reading.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advance copy.

This book is in a format that is totally unfamiliar to me and up to about half way through I was thinking of giving up. I was struggling to follow who was talking to whom and finding that the text was just too broken and bitty. However, when I managed to settle down for a good solid reading session I found that everything changed and there was a flow to the narrative that I hadn't been able to appreciate in earlier shorter sessions.

Ana is such an authentic character and some of her thoughts and feelings resonated really strongly with me.

The twist at the end was a surprise, but it was just right.

The first book I have read told in narrative/verse but sadly this was not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I love narrative told in verse and Sarah Crossan does it so well! A very quick read with a fantastic plot. I cannot wait to read more novels in this format.

I had heard wonderful reports about this author. This is my first reading of a Sarah Crossan book and what a rare treat it was.

From the first page I was involved in the story, I wanted to know what had happened and of course what was coming next for Ana.

Sarah Crossan writes wonderfully. She is able to grasp and encapsulate those small moments in time, when life is pivioting on one chance decision.

It is a mournful and a heart wrenching story, beautifully told. I could feel Ana's anguish and despair at every turn. I could sense her frustration with her life I felt that,as a reader, I watched her privately mourn for what could have been.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Sarah portrayed realistic characters and brought their situations to life. I felt for Ana, for Paul, for Rebecca, for Ruth and for Jon. Those chance meetings, that ignite a spark, can do so much damage to so many lives, in so many little ways. I think that Sarah has shown this to perfection.

I will be reading some of Sarah's previous books, based on how much I enjoyed this book. A real treat.

Having read Sarah Crossan’s previous YA titles I was intrigued and excited how her first prose novel aimed at adults would read. I was not disappointed.
We were introduced to a very believable character and situation, Reading a book in this style you would think that sub plots and background stories may be dropped, but they were all there. It made you think about characters, their characteristics and what lead them to the decisions they have made after you have put the book down.

This style of writing is just not for me. It jumped around too much and as it's supposedly in verse I found it difficult to read. The only good thing about this book was that it was short!

This was fantastic!! I have never read a book written in verse before and loved the experience. I sad story of love, loss, infidelity, obsession. Highly recommend! Many thanks netgally for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review

I have always loved Sarah Crossan’s style of storytelling through verse. I love her young adult stories and she is one of the few writers whose new book releases I will anticipate. However, I did find it hard to connect with Here is the Beehive and I think I know why.

Whereas One and Toffee are primarily for a younger audience, Here is the Beehive is very much a novel for adults. It focuses on the extra-marital affair of Ana and Connor and I think it was the quality of the problem that made me feel disconnected. With the protagonists in Crossan’s YA fiction I think I allow an additional level of sympathy. Whereas, I was very direct with my response to Ana and her problem. She, as an adult, chose to act on her feelings and I just couldn’t marry her actions with my own attitude towards them. I disagreed with the infidelity and therefore found it hard to sympathise with her.

However, I believe that this is actually a strength in Crossan’s case. It takes a talented writer to be able to make me read a book if I actively dislike the main character. That is actually quite impressive.

I think you should read Here is the Beehive and see if you have a similar response. Was it the same as mine?

Here is the Beehive by Sarah Crossan is available from 20th August 2020.

For more information regarding Sarah Crossan (@SarahCrossan) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Bloomsbury Publishing (@BloomsburyBooks) please visit www.bloomsbury.com.

Ana is a married woman who is mourning the loss of her married lover, Connor. After his sudden death, she and Connor's wife have to come to terms with their own personal loss and learn how to move on.
An original journey of grief and extra-marital obsession,
incredibly moving accomplished story.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bloomsbury Publishing Ltd (UK and ANZ) and Sarah Crossan for a pre-publication copy to review.

I wasn't sure what to expect with 'Here is the Beehive' but after seeing some recommendations I had to give it a read. I haven't read any Sarah Crossan books and I've never read any stories written in verse but I was drawn into it straight away and couldn't stop reading.

It's straight to the point no fancy fluff padding the story out and I enjoyed that.
No, Ana isn't a likable character but I didn't need to like her. The story describes the physiological turmoil Ana faces after her lover dies unexpectedly and the heartbreak that she can't express.

It really is a unique book and I will be reading more Sarah Crossan books.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

'Here is the Beehive' by Sarah Crossan is a book in verse form, depicting the aftermath of an affair between Ana and Connor, cut short by his death.

I have read other books by Sarah Crossan, who has used verse form with great effect in YA novels, but I have to admit to being less enamoured with it here. Beyond it making this a quick read, I am not sure it adds to the narrative and instead makes it shallow and fragmented. In a YA book this works, but in an adult novel I wanted more. I also struggled to empathise with the characters, which means that they didn't get under my skin, and I didn't feel compelled to sit and read.

This is not a terrible book by any means, but not one I am left feeling excited about.

This book has such pace in the way it delivers. It is a sad story of an affair between two rather selfish people.