This was an easy 5 stars, I so so loved it. I have thoroughly enjoyed both of the Amanda Cox books before this one, but I think He Should Have Told the Bees takes #1.

First, I love farm life, so getting to read a story about that was super super fun. Also, I had never read a story about beekeepers and apiaries so I was learning a lot.

Next, the characters really stole my heart. Especially Fern, loved that little girl. It's remarkable how well Cox can write authentic relationships with flawed people.

The mystery in this one was also really interesting. Wasn't super surprising, but still fun to read. Her past two books were dual timeline and this one wasn't per say, but you got flashbacks instead.

Finally, the faith. Amanda Cox knows how to write a story with christian characters really exploring the depths of their relationship with God and I love that.

Overall, highly recommend just like I have for all of her books. Pick this one up!

Content: addiction.

I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley, thank you to the publishers. ALL opinions expressed are my own!

He Should Have Told The Bees was such an interwoven mental health battle among several individuals all circling back to one person or catalyst. So well done in making mental health seem like an every day disease that can be cured when given the right tools and having the right mindset. Also really enjoyed all of the facts about bees intermixed throughout the story, the character building was well done. This book makes for a fun summer read full of love and redemption.
I want to thank the author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to release in exchange for my honest opinion.

A deeply moving story. It's definitely not a happy go lucky story. There is a lot of sadness and loss in the story but there is still a lot of beauty and wisdom in the story. Reading the story left me thankful for the relationships of those around me and the women who cared so well for me.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own

He Should Have Told the Bees by Amanda Cox is a rare for Christian fiction look at the effect childhood trauma and secrets can have on our lives. This book excelled at bringing to light several mental illnesses--agoraphobia, anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disorder. This book looks at abandonment and the damage alcoholism wrecks on a family.

What's interesting is that BOTH lead characters deal with mental illness--and both are also professing Christians. You will see how it's possible to deal with mental illness in a healthy way through counselling and it doesn't take away from your faith in God. This is so important in this day and age--you aren't less of a Christian if you need help to deal with your mental illnesses! We need more books to bring this to light.

The book takes us into the mind of each character when they are in counseling. Or when they are in the middle of a full fledged crippling panic attack.

While all of this is part of the book--it doesn't detract from the plot of the book--how Beck and Callie are brought together by a man's death and are forced to explore secrets that may be key to understanding their own personal traumas. Beck hides in a safe space (her farm) that she never leaves, while Callie has the desperate need to be the fixer of everyone's issues, but putting her own needs aside to make it happen. Both experiencing a loss of personal relationships because of it.

It's a book to remind us that the path we have set before ourselves, isn't always the path that God has planned for us. And we MUST be willing to let it go and let God work in our lives. And also--the lesson from the bees: you are stronger together. Each has a role to play to support someone else. And just because they are weak at times, it doesn't take away from their overall strength. The book deals with hard topics, and there aren't easy answers...but you end with hope.

I think my favorite part of the book was Brit's "moment" with the bees near the end. Her "aha" moment. I loved it.
I also loved little Fern and her mismatched socks.
I 100% believe this could be made into a movie for something like Pure Flix or Hallmark. <3

No, I didn't cry or laugh out loud. But it will stick with me. It was an excellent book dealing with some very real things for many people today. I copied down several quotes.
"Sometimes I pray and tell God I'm letting go and even convince myself that I've released control, but I'm really holding on with two hands."

100% correct for myself as well.

This was my first Amanda Cox book, and I loved it. This was such a deeply moving and touching story. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop! There were so many layers to this story and great character development throughout. I could relate so much to Beck and Callie when it came to aspects of their mother and it made me want to jump in the pages and hug their necks. Even though I don't enjoy long books, I do wish this one was a bit longer to tie up a few loose ends. Maybe there will be a sequel?

“He Should Have Told the Bees” is another great book by Amanda Cox!

Beckett grew up in the safety of Walsh Farm raising bees with her beloved dad. After his sudden death, she finds herself as only a part-owner of her longtime home. Callie is finally living out her dream of owning her own store when her mother shows up asking for help with her substance abuse.

You’ll enjoy getting to know Beckett and Callie as well as unraveling the mystery that ties them together!

Another wonderful story from Amanda Cox!! The story of 2 woman thrown together when one is put on a trust for a farm, but neither of the woman know each other. Together they must solve the mystery of who each other are and what to do with the farm!!
I found this story enduring. The story of love and forgiveness was written so well you can see God working in these 2 woman. The journey of faith also beautiful to read, and I learn a lot about bees!! Beautiful, fun, and heartwarming this story is for everyone and I highly recommend it!! I hope you pick up a copy, I know I will too!!

Amanda Cox has written a beautiful story about life and bees and forgiveness. Beck and Callie struggle due to painful childhoods but in completely different ways. Beck hides in a safe space, away from others while Callie has the compulsion to be the fixer of everyone's problems, to the detriment of her own needs, without actually letting anyone close. But they can both learn from the bees - that they can depend on others for help, that they are stronger than they think, that living is more than just going through the motions.

Both women face tough, real-life issues such as abandonment, neglect, panic attacks, and loneliness. The book doesn't offer easy answers, but it does offer hope. It will make you think about what is truly important. It will also point out the effects of hiding the truth and being afraid to communicate with loved ones.

This is Christian fiction and contains prayers and conversations about faith. It is family friendly though some of the topics might be difficult for young or sensitive readers.

I highly recommend it.

Amanda Cox has another winner with this book!

This is her third book I've read--and they've all been 5 stars. :) (No pressure, Amanda. LOL!) She does a wonderful job at combining faith, family, a little mystery, and a little romance all into one; I enjoyed that romance took a back burner here--present, but understated, especially compared with the other plot points occurring.

I learned a lot about beekeeping; not that I'm about to take it up by any stretch (no, thank you! Bees aren't really my favorite, except for appreciating pollination and honey), but it made for a really interesting topic throughout the read. And Fern was a hoot!

Character development was absolutely on point here (defo one of Cox's strong points), and I would really like to visit the various mentioned towns in Tennessee. They sound like neat places!

Well worth the read; I can't wait for Cox's next book!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Like many of the books I read, I took a while to really get into this story (it’s not the book; it’s me—I’m a slow-starting reader). But once I was in, I was in! Wow. What a powerful story. One of my favorite things about Cox’s writing is how she writes deep, relatable characters. She delivers on the character front in a big way in this book, making me laugh and want to cry as the different ones in here experienced joy and sorrow. There were a few laugh-out-loud scenes in this story, and some heavier stuff in there that balanced out the humor, but overall, the tone of this story is one of hope, forgiveness, and redemption. It’s not an easy read, necessarily (although I could think of worse!), but oh, it’s a good one—and one that you’ll remember long after you read the last page. Cox takes us on a journey—a journey of discovery, untold secrets, and, ultimately, the peace that only the Lord can give. Woven naturally through this book are tips for we can help and support others in what they’re going through, no matter whether it’s lifelong or recent trauma, and I found that especially a blessing. If you’re looking for a deep, rich, encouraging read, pick this book up. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

When Beckett Walsh loses her father, and fellow beekeeper, unexpectedly, she is left to follow the tradition of telling the bees of his passing, as well as figure out what life looks like moving forward without him. Adding to the complexity of the situation is her fear of leaving the property, as well as a newcomer - Callie Peterson, who has inexplicably been added to the trust for the property. Can the two women work together to figure out the mystery, as well as form a relationship that may help heal them both from the trauma of their past?

This was my first book by this author, but I don't imagine that it will be my last. She wove the separate stories of these two women, as well as the people in their lives, together so well that I cared for them both equally and could feel the tension of no perfect solution to their dilemma. I thought the support characters were well done, lending strength and confidence to the women, but not overshadowing them. I loved the addition of the little girl who gave Beck a distraction and a friend, even as she mentored the little girl and befriended her caretaker.

4 stars

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

This was another excellent read by Amanda Cox. The characters are flawed and likeable, yet there is much depth to the storyline and the complexities of family relationships that is likely to resonate with many readers. I highly recommend it.

Engaging story about a sheltered woman struggling to run a farm after her father dies, as she battles panic attacks that leave her isolated. Meanwhile another woman tried to fulfill her dream of starting a business while coping with her addict mother. Their lives collide in surprising ways when the first woman's father leaves part of the farm to the second woman.

BLURB: 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.

REVIEW: This book follows two grown women, both denied the love of a mother as children, both coming to terms with their life choices. It explores the complexity of family relationships and what it means to belong and to have a home, even if that is not a tangible one.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this in return for my honest review.

Two young women, both emotionally damaged from childhood experiences. Through death and a subsequent will , are brought together to share an inheritance. A story of loss, but also of personal growth. Deeply drawn characters bring the reader into the story. Faith and hope and of course the bees are the foundations of a story that is easy to recommend to most ages. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this advance copy.

This was one of the very best books that I have read in a long time. I very much enjoyed the story with a few light romances on the side instead of the reverse. Go read this one!

Very interesting story of complicated family dynamics, both in human and bee families. Amanda Cox has an amazing storytelling my talent that leaves you wanting more. I enjoyed every page of this book as well as her previous books.

Another amazing read from author Amanda Cox.

For some reason I have recently been drawn to books about bees. Not only was this book beautiful, it told such a deep story of heartbreak and forgiveness.

This book continues to live rent free in my mind. I can’t stop thinking about it.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

I haven’t read an Amanda Cox book that I didn’t love. In this story of family and the lengths some will go to love the one person in their life who they can’t live without, you’ll find a well-written, lovely story of acceptance and hope. Beckett and Callie couldn’t be more opposites. Yet, they have an undeniable bond; a person who has wrecked both of their lives. Cox weaves a heartfelt story of hope, love, and forgiveness in this beautiful book. I have to say a word about little Fern who is simply the best. She’s the character who was at the heart of the story for me. And I loved the story of the bees that Cox skillfully weaves into the book. I hope you’ll read Cox’s books. This one is a winner!

This compassionate, heartfelt story permeated my heart from the first page. Two young women, who had never met, are unexpectedly brought together at the death of the father of one of them. Both grew up without the love of a mother, one in a more dysfunctional environment than the other, however, both experienced brokenness.
Callie’s mother regularly disappeared from her life for long periods of time, often leaving her with Ms. Ruthie, until Ms. Ruthie died.
Beckett’s mother left when she was five years old, never to be seen again. Her Dad quit his job at the bank and comes home with a package of bees. He became a beekeeper, and Beckett worked right along with him, learning along with her father about bees. Beckett is now twenty-eight, and mourning the loss of her beloved Dad, however, following his instructions to let the bees know he is gone by draping black clothes over the hives. While doing this, a young girl appears out of the surrounding trees and bushes, announcing she is an alien from another planet, named Katya Amadeus Cimmaron. This rambunctious young girl, also known as Fern, fills a need in Becketts’s life she did not even recognize. She ends up helping her uncle by having Fern over for a few hours every day and together care for the bees and other farm animals.
Callie is now thirty-one, has established her own business of making and selling soaps, lotions, candles, and other personal products and has even bought a building to open a store. Her alcoholic mother has finally admitted she needs help and has been admitted to a rehabilitation center.
There are surprising circumstances, secrets are revealed in this beautiful story of faith and redemption that even after the last page has been turned, I am still thinking about.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.