This book is simultaneously easy to read, intelligent, and thoughtful. I found it hard to put down, really eye opening, and in some places challenging as Gloria struggles to please her religious parents and herself, and come to terms with who she is, ultimately making peace with God.

This book was a very very very pleasant surprise. This is my first book by this author and I must say I love the way she writes. Her style is so easy, unpretentious and pleasant but at the same time it fully retains the reader's focus on each word. After a long time I found a book that one can read with ease, in one breath. It took me a few days to finish it, but only because I didn't want it to end. Very good job and I am excited to read some other books by the author soon.

I really like that this book did a good job of exploring the things that can happen when you go against your own instincts. Liked the characters as well.

A fast read about a lesbian teenager who is placed in a center where aversion therapy is used to "cure" gay patients. Gloria experiences an aura of bees who seemingly come to her at difficult times. This doesn't really come full circle in the narrative as a successful literary device. The sense of dread that builds as the story progresses keeps the pages turning. There are several artistic references that depict the place and time like the Catcher in the Rye as Gloria' s book at the hospital to listening to Donna Summer in the seventies. Overall, a good read.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

It’s the 1960’s when Gloria’s parents, still reeling from the loss of their newborn twins, find out their teenage daughter is attracted to girls. Out of misguided love and concern, and a desire to protect Gloria from what they anticipate would be a difficult life, they send her to Belmont, a facility that promises to heal and fix what was considered to be her unnatural urges so she could live a ‘normal’ life. There she meets Sheff, a tortured soul who was forced to endure the harsh and cruel environment at Belmont, not once, but twice. They become fast friends.

I don’t want to reveal further details of the plot, as they are best discovered by the reader. This novel is an examination of the harm inflicted when someone is not accepted for who they are, but instead told they are sick, their urges unnatural, and there’s something wrong with them. We follow Gloria in her struggles, through love and loss, joy and heartbreak. It’s a cautionary tale of the consequences of denying your true nature.

What didn’t work for me were the bees. I didn’t understand why they were there. Sometimes they served as a warning, sometimes they were there to save her, and, apparently, she was the only one who could see them. I don’t mind a little magical realism in my books but this one was confusing and felt out of place, detracting from the story instead of adding to it.

This book gets a solid 3 stars from me, meaning I liked it. It was a quick read, simply written, with a great message. It was good but missing the complexity of plot and characters that I need to give it the extra oomph that makes for a 4 or 5 star reading experience.

*many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fast paced read. I jumped right into the story. This is an interesting look into the past and how certain feelings were treated. I loved Gloria.

I basically devoured this novel, centered around a young girl who gets sent to a gay conversion camp in the '60s. The story has some truly dark and depressing moments, but there were also a lot of heartwarming elements that made the story delightful instead of dreary. The characters all lifted off the page, and I felt truly invested in the action of the plot. The best part for me was the magical realism element of a hive of bees that follows the main character throughout her life. This had just the right blend of whimsy, magic, and realism. I'll definitely be checking out this author's future work.

Lost in the Beehive is a beautifully written novel about finding and sticking to your true self. It follows Gloria Ricci who was brought into an Institution to "treat" her condition of being a lesbian. It's seems absurd but it was a thing then, I guess. (It was quite horrifying to read, to be honest.) Since leaving the facility and after her adventure with her friend from the Institute, she wanted to live a "normal life"--one that is expected from her. She took a regular job and married a man she met while working. It's quite a predictable novel but still wonderfully executed. Gloria is a heroine that's very human--she has her faults and you will always see where she's coming from. The relationships she built with the people she met along the way shaped her as a character and forming what she finally decided on in the end. She's a protagonist I'll never get tired of rooting for. The ending was very expected yet very well written. It's one of those ending you know will happen but still want to read on and see how it goes. Also, did I mention that I teared up a bit?

A bit predictable but beautifully written. Heartbreaking at times and carries a heroine worth rooting for! A recommended read if you're looking for a quick literary fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book

There was something so special and magical about this story. I went into this without knowing much about it but as soon as I started reading I was totally absorbed in the characters and the places.
The story starts in the 1960's and follows Gloria Ricci from the time she spends in Belmont Institute where she meets Sheff and what follows when she is released.
Its a story about love and friendship with a touch of magical realism. Sometimes heart breaking but also so uplifting.
Michele's writing is so beautiful and I totally got lost in the struggles of Gloria's world. This story and Gloria will stay with me a long time and one I will read again.

Thought provoking, relevant, heartbreaking, warm and tender but realistically brutal, Lost in the Beehives was the opposite of an onerous read. Engrossing as hell.

Lost in the Beehive is quietly beautiful and heart wrenching. Gloria is a young woman in the 60s, faced with many opportunities where she must choose between what society expects of her and what her heart tells her. The bees provide the perfect touch of magical realism; I could feel the buzzing when they visit Gloria. This book is a moving exploration of the pivotal moments that make up a life, and making the choice to truly live.

I was really taken with this novel – on the light side yet deals with very serious issues, sweet and emotional, smart and funny. I had no idea what this one was about … I just knew that I loved her last novel and HAD to get my hands on this one. I’m so glad that I did. It’s a fantastic little novel. Gloria is one of those characters that I think will stay with me for some time. She and Sheff … talk about a friendship unlike any other. This is an inspiring book about love and friendship as well as about staying true to who you are! Heartbreaking and heart lifting all at the same time. Highly recommend this one! [By the way, if you haven’t read Above Us Only Sky(her previous novel), RUN and read it!]

Although a special story and one to admire due to all of our differences as individuals, I do apologize, but I just could not get through this book. The storyline although meaningful and written well, it was just not "all-engrossing" for me as I had so hoped. I will be giving this a second try as I feel it's necessary, given so many positive reviews elsewhere.
Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC.

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I fell in love with this book in the beginning and then somewhere along the way, it lost is heart.

Gloria was a wonderful character, but I found the book to be vey predicatable and I had a idea of where it as going and how it was going. If it kept the heart, it would have been a great ne!

I went into reading this book not knowing too much - I read all genres so I like to be surprised by stories. The cover and the title both spoke to me - I grew up on a farm and we had beehives and "raised" bees for our own honey and wax. I adore everything about bees and have always thought they were magical creatures.
Lost in the Beehive just made me love them even more. It's a wonderful thought to think that bees understand you, and are by your side during traumatic events, trying to steer you in the right direction. Gloria Ricci definitely needed some direction growing up, from anyone - or anything.
It is Vietnam era 1960's when we first find Gloria being sent to a mental asylum, to be "cured" of an "illness". We follow her through this experience, and quite a few other major life events throughout, and there always seem to be some bees hovering nearby, as if guiding her, protecting her.
Michele Young-Stones writing is exquisite. The witty banter between Gloria and her dearest friend Sheff had me laughing out loud, and the story flows so smoothly it's easy to find yourself lost in it all. The characters are so colorful, and you can feel the bees magical energy so much throughout the story, that it's just enough to make a sad story about finding yourself, feel like a mystical fairytale.
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review Lost in the Beehive.

3.5 stars

I loved the beginning of Lost in the Beehive, but then I found that it lost a bit of its strength. It’s still 3.5 stars overall based on the beginning and the topic.

The story starts in the 1960s, when 16 year old Gloria is taken to an institution that is meant to reprogram gay teenagers. Gloria becomes good friends with a gay boy, Scheff. I don’t want to say too much about what happens between Gloria and Scheff to avoid spoilers, but flashing forward a few years Gloria ends up living in a very small community and married to Jacob.

I really liked the part of the book that focuses on Gloria and Scheff but I found the rest of the book somewhat predictable. I was also a bit put off by the bee theme and tinge of psychic woo woo. Having said that, I loved the characters, including Gloria, her family and Jacob’s family. Overall, this was one of those books with a clear message and plenty of heart — just a bit predictable and pat at times.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2357304510?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

As this story begins, a young, teenage Gloria Ricci is being driven by her parents to an institute to be treated for her “abnormal” desires and her choice of companions.

”My mother leaned over the seat back in her cat-eye sunglasses. ‘You’ll get better at this place. They’re going to make you like everybody else.’”

It was 1965, a year after the Beatles first American tour, a year after the first Civil Rights Act, and Rock’em Sock’em Robots were one of the top selling toys, Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston, and the first Ford Mustang was made. By 1965, the anti-war sentiment had grown and 35,000 people marched on Washington. The cost of an average house in America was $13,600.00. The average income was $6,450.00. Gasoline was 31 cents a gallon.

The Belmont Institute was where Gloria meets Sheff, Sheffield Schoeffler, a young man whose inclinations were abhorrent to his parents, his father in particular.

”We passed through the door, and the world I knew was gone.”

It would be another eight years before the American Psychiatric Association would remove homosexuality from its list of mental illnesses, leaving both of these teenagers, and who knows how many others like them, to be kept against their will under the guise of “mental illness.” To be released, they would need to be “cured” of their deviant behaviors, thoughts and desires.

Gloria eventually is allowed to leave, her psychiatrist believing she’s been cured. Eventually Sheff makes his way to the outside world, as well, and Gloria finds her way to him, fairly certain she knew where she could find him.

Bees feature heavily in this story, and seem to be hovering near Gloria through events in her life. They’re nearby when her mother loses twin babies, when her parents leave her at the Institute, and when they accompany her to Madame Zelda, a fortune teller, and then later, still, when she finds herself at the mercy of the man she married. Time and time again they seem to offer her solace and strength, a sense of being watched over, protected by them.

”Lost in the Beehive” is a love story, and a story about love – what love really means, about those moments and people in life that mold us, and change us, the places our hearts see as home, and the unusual sources we sometimes find our strength from and through.

I really loved the ease, the ebb and flow of this story, loved hearing the buzzing of the bees, and feeling that energy. The sprinkling of magical realism in this quietly moving story added just the perfect touch, and I fell under its spell.


Published 10 APR 2018


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Simon & Schuster

Set in the mid-1960s, Michele Young-Stone’s new release, LOST IN THE BEEHIVE, deftly examines the different meanings of love, family, and friendship. At turning points in her life, Gloria Ricci finds herself surrounded by bees. They are there when her mother loses twin children, when she meets Isabel and develops feelings for her that she shouldn’t have, when her parents take her to the Belmont Institute to find healing and normalcy. The Belmont Institute employs a variety of cruel methods of “curing” homosexuals of their “inappropriate” impulses and feelings. While there, Gloria meets Sheffield Schoeffler and the two become the best of friends. After both are released from the confines of the Institute, they make their way to New York City to put together a life and future that works for them. As Gloria tries to move on from her past and embrace the future she experiences profound love and loss. Along the way she meets Jacob, the man she eventually marries. But Gloria doesn’t see Jacob’s dark side until it’s too late. Through it all, the bees remain by Gloria’s side and she realizes why they are there when she needs them most.

This is a touching story that focuses on the confusion and emotional turmoil that comes from not living an honest life and not being free to be yourself. Set in a time when being gay was seen as a form of psychological deviancy, Gloria finds strength and eventually acceptance from the family she was born into and the family she chooses. When I read book synopsis, I was eager to read it. And it did not disappoint. The pace of the book moves swiftly and your heart breaks for Gloria as she struggles to put aside who she really is for what society tells her she should be. The main characters are very likeable; Gloria and Sheff feel like people that would be my friends in real life. I wish that Gloria’s Uncle Eddie had a more prominent role in the story. His character is funny and I found his past relationship with Gloria’s mother intriguing. I empathized with Gloria and Sheff and wished that they had been free to be completely themselves and live the life they wanted, on their own terms. I found the writing to be clear and relatable; however, there were times when the dialogue felt a bit stiff and repetitive. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it. This is a solid 3.5/5 star read for me. I am rounding up the star rating to reflect the additional half star. I was given an advance copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

There are a few times when a new movie comes out - I see the trailer - the cast is great - but the trailer doesn’t look like anything special. “Three Billboards” is a perfect example for me. Then I ‘saw’ the movie ( and not right away - it took a friend telling me to ‘go’)- it was so outstanding- I saw it twice. Looking ‘back’ at the trailer ‘after’ having seen the movie- it looks better to me - but still does not do the movie justice.

That’s how I feel about “Lost in the Beehive”. The name of the book itself didn’t grab my attention right away. The blurb alone is ok - and even accurate- but it sounded ‘busy’ to me - lightweight whimsy with some emotional heart - yet with so many books to choose from - it simply sounded like another tale that would be good - but not INCREDIBLE! I think it’s INCREDIBLE- and WONDERFUL!! I almost completely passed this book up.
Many thanks to *Marilyn* for sending me a book recommendation. Her review convinced me. I checked this book out yesterday- read it - and it’s MUCH BETTER than the blurb let’s on. It’s actually important and relevant to some issues happening in the news today.

BEFORE I GET INTO MY REVIEW....I want to mention that Conversion Therapy on minors is still legal today. The pseudoscientific “Gay Cure” attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity through techniques that have included electric shock and induced vomiting.
Just a couple of days ago - in ‘The Washington Post’, is an article which headlines:
“A BISEXUAL STATE DELEGATE WANTS TO BAN CONVERSION THERAPY ON MINORS. HER STATE SENATOR FATHER DISAGREES”.

I’m not going to debate this topic — and the entire article in the Washington Post is just heartbreaking to me....but research has found that Conversion Therapy is ineffective - dangerous- harmful — with a list of potential serious effects. I bring this topic up....because it’s relevant to this story.

Now for my REVIEW....NO MAJOR SPOILERS!!!
TIDBIT STYLE REVIEW:

MANY REASONS TO READ THIS BOOK:
.....BIGGEST REASON ......YOU’ll LOVE IT. It will tap deeply into your mind and heart.

.....It’s fast reading - very engaging - lovely ease in the writing which DEMANDS OUR FULL ATTENTION...because the writing flows effortlessly. Kudos to author Michele Young-Stone. I’m digging this author. My first experience reading her.

.....The setting takes place in the 60’s and 70’s. Many memorable references:
Walter Cronkite, Waldorf salads, Swanson TV dinners, mini skirts, faded bell-bottoms, Woolworths, Lucky Strikes, Carole King, ‘Tapestry’, the pull-out sofa,
Bourbon in Dixie cups at picnics, tuna casserole, Nancy Sinatra Go-Go boots,
crocheted top with exposed midriff, Mutoscopes( at the Museum of modern Art in New York,MoMA), Vietnam War, Nathan’s famous Hot Dog’s - slice pizza & coke,
“Catcher in the Rye”, The National organization for women was calling a ratification for the equal rights amendment, Patsy Cline, ‘Walk-in After Midnight’, “NEAT”....( isn’t that just NEAT?), Old records: Bessie Smith, Benny Goldman, Ella Fitzgerald,
Oscar, a golden retriever, small town gossip, Hostess Sno Balls, canned spaghetti O’s, and ravioli,
Three layered chocolate cake, Frank Sinatra, ‘Fly Me To The Moon’, Rolling Stones,’I. Can’t Get No Satisfaction’, Donna Summers, and footie pajamas.

.....As vile as the Belmont Institute was —- Gloria Ricci and Sheffield meet under those dreadful conditions- and become best friends. They are both gay.
They were also both minors. Gloria 16. Sheff, 17. Their parents had control of their choices. Be aware there ‘is’ one scene that is painfully graphic - yet important to understand the magnitude of the therapy practices.

.....Gloria got out first. Goes back home in Maryville, for awhile, to live with her parents Frank and Molly. We get to know the parents well throughout the years changing. Even though they had sent Gloria to Belmont to ‘heal’ her .....we will learn other sides of her parents - actually very supportive - not typical of most parents who sent their teens to institutions to change them.

.....Then Sheff. He goes to New York.

.....Gloria follows Sheff. One afternoon they rented a boat at Turtle Bay in Central Park...it wasn’t only the sky’s reflection that matched Sheff’s eyes, the warm sun, the dragonflies that made that day wonderful for Gloria.
We saw her open up more. We knew their relationship was deepening- she loved him. Lying close to him that night she whispered in his ear, “I’m going to marry you, Sheffield Schoeffler”.

.....Life doesn’t always go as planned:
.....Gloria meets Jacob Blount - marries him. Moves to a small town called Greeley. Not too far from Washington City. They moved into a house that was built in 1927. A tobacco farmer had once owned it.
The best thing about the town was meeting Betty, who owned a restaurant/ bakery in town.

.....You’ll meet other interesting and or mysterious characters: Uncle Eddie - Big Mama - Madame Zelda - Early Bird - Darlene - etc.

....A ‘little’ about the Bees: ( just a context) ...
“There are all these myths- Native American, African, and Celtic- about how bees are symbolic of birth and creativity; they can be spirits traveling from one world to the next”.

Gloria says:
.....”I felt caught between two worlds, one where I was special, some magical beekeeper, and another where I did what I was told. I kept the house neat, made dinner, spread my thighs as wide as they would go. I was a trapeze artist walking a tightrope”.


.....”I best skedaddle”...... ( when’s the last time you heard that phrase?) :)

I hate to leave this book....
We’ve all experienced somebody wanting to change us. If we are truthful - we know people we wish we could change....
This book inspires genuine living — Queen & King Bees of our own happiness!

Thank You Simon & Schuster- Netgalley - and Michele Young-Stone