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eimear93's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
agakoczur's review against another edition
4.0
There is a certain art to novels which are written in verse instead of the usual prose; dare I say there is almost a poetic nature to them (pun fully intended). Here is the Beehive was one of those books that was all over Instagram, and from reading the blurb I knew that I would be interested in it – I do enjoy a troubling domestic fiction tale, and quite enjoyed the TV show The Affair (which I need to finish if it’s still on Netflix). But back to the book.
When I first saw this book I wasn’t aware of how it was written. I thought it was one of those ordinary novels tackling a tricky topic. But, after a small spoiler that I stumbled upon during a perusal of the ‘gram, I saw that it was not that. It didn’t deter me from reading the book by Crossnan, but in a way, I would like to have seen this tale further developed into prose, where the characters could be further developed and the storyline further delved into. I think this is the element that stopped me from giving the text a full five stars. There was a good amount of detail but there is more that I would have liked to know and experience with the characters.
These experiences that are undergone are not amiss. There is plenty of detail that is threaded through the verses and pages. All in all, this is a telling tale. It is emotional on several levels, there is love between people and between these same characters there is also loss. There are ties formed and broken, deceit and deception, but also a familiarity to that which transpires in the mind of the protagonist. With limited amounts of text, the readers are still presented with immense levels of detail, the words and thoughts of the characters drifting from the pages.
If you are ever stuck in a rut with what to read, this is a great text to pick up. As it’s not your standard novel in prose, it reads relatively quickly with not a lot of information thrown at you all at once, but at a pace that is natural to the length and development of the story. Definitely worth a read at any point of the year, and at any time in life.
When I first saw this book I wasn’t aware of how it was written. I thought it was one of those ordinary novels tackling a tricky topic. But, after a small spoiler that I stumbled upon during a perusal of the ‘gram, I saw that it was not that. It didn’t deter me from reading the book by Crossnan, but in a way, I would like to have seen this tale further developed into prose, where the characters could be further developed and the storyline further delved into. I think this is the element that stopped me from giving the text a full five stars. There was a good amount of detail but there is more that I would have liked to know and experience with the characters.
These experiences that are undergone are not amiss. There is plenty of detail that is threaded through the verses and pages. All in all, this is a telling tale. It is emotional on several levels, there is love between people and between these same characters there is also loss. There are ties formed and broken, deceit and deception, but also a familiarity to that which transpires in the mind of the protagonist. With limited amounts of text, the readers are still presented with immense levels of detail, the words and thoughts of the characters drifting from the pages.
If you are ever stuck in a rut with what to read, this is a great text to pick up. As it’s not your standard novel in prose, it reads relatively quickly with not a lot of information thrown at you all at once, but at a pace that is natural to the length and development of the story. Definitely worth a read at any point of the year, and at any time in life.
natalies7's review against another edition
5.0
Sarah Crossan has fast become my favourite author. Having read her young adult books it was a nice change up to read something a bit more adult. Her style of writing in free verse means it really gets right to the point and you literally cannot put it down.
I loved it xx
I loved it xx
powisamy's review against another edition
RTC
I have loved a lot of Sarah Crossan's books, especially her books in verse so when I saw that she was releasing a book for adults, I jumped at the chance to review it. While there were parts of this book that I found enjoyable, Here Is The Beehive fell a little flat for me but I will still read any other books she releases.
First I'm going to start with the negatives so we can get to the stuff that I did like. Overall, I think that the book was always going to be something that I didn't like but I still wanted to support the author as I am not a massive fan of cheating, which is a massive part of the book. When it takes up so much space in the story it can distract from what good there is.
Sarah Crossan obviously knows how to write prose and poetry and this is still evident in the book but I still had some problems with it. Ana's voice is very distinctive which I can argue is a good thing because throughout I think she is a compelling character that the reader has to root for but I don't think that this happens throughout.
I found at times that Ana's voice came across as uninteresting and I didn't really want to follow her as a character in a story I didn't really care about. For me, characters are everything and when I can't connect to a character, I can't connect with the book.
This comes hand in hand with the writing which I did for the most part enjoy. Sarah Crossan knows how to craft words and verse and this is still evident throughout the book and was obviously part of why I carried on reading. It is also really short so that is also why I continued.
But I have been hooked on her writing before. I have stayed up way too late reading her books before. I know she can hook me as a reader but this just didn't do it which is so disappointing and it in fact took me a while to finish this one.
Maybe I just had too high expectations for this book but I know there are going to be people who love it. I just wasn't one of them.
I will of course still support Sarah Crossan in the future because I know I can love her books!
The Verdict:
Here Is The Beehive is a book that deals with cheating perfectly and should find its audience and those who love it.
I have loved a lot of Sarah Crossan's books, especially her books in verse so when I saw that she was releasing a book for adults, I jumped at the chance to review it. While there were parts of this book that I found enjoyable, Here Is The Beehive fell a little flat for me but I will still read any other books she releases.
First I'm going to start with the negatives so we can get to the stuff that I did like. Overall, I think that the book was always going to be something that I didn't like but I still wanted to support the author as I am not a massive fan of cheating, which is a massive part of the book. When it takes up so much space in the story it can distract from what good there is.
Sarah Crossan obviously knows how to write prose and poetry and this is still evident in the book but I still had some problems with it. Ana's voice is very distinctive which I can argue is a good thing because throughout I think she is a compelling character that the reader has to root for but I don't think that this happens throughout.
I found at times that Ana's voice came across as uninteresting and I didn't really want to follow her as a character in a story I didn't really care about. For me, characters are everything and when I can't connect to a character, I can't connect with the book.
This comes hand in hand with the writing which I did for the most part enjoy. Sarah Crossan knows how to craft words and verse and this is still evident throughout the book and was obviously part of why I carried on reading. It is also really short so that is also why I continued.
But I have been hooked on her writing before. I have stayed up way too late reading her books before. I know she can hook me as a reader but this just didn't do it which is so disappointing and it in fact took me a while to finish this one.
Maybe I just had too high expectations for this book but I know there are going to be people who love it. I just wasn't one of them.
I will of course still support Sarah Crossan in the future because I know I can love her books!
The Verdict:
Here Is The Beehive is a book that deals with cheating perfectly and should find its audience and those who love it.
booksaremypeople's review against another edition
5.0
This is a subtle and moving novel about a woman, Ana, who works as an estate lawyer and executor of people’s wills. When the wife of the man she’s been carrying on an affair with for years walks into her office and tells Ana he’s died, she receives quite a shock, but must hide it from the wife. The narrative reels back in time with memories and fragments from their affair together, how they met, how they fought and what promises were made. The narrative also follows her newfound and controversial relationship with the widow of her lover. This is a beautifully written book with poetic ruminations on this seminal moment in her life. An honest look at grief and loss. Thank you to Little, Brown And Company and NetGalley for the advanced review copy of this book.
constance2705's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
the poem structure is fun
it's not something I can relate to and all of the characters are pretty pathetic - apart from Rebecca
but a quick read and a good length
the poem structure is fun
it's not something I can relate to and all of the characters are pretty pathetic - apart from Rebecca
but a quick read and a good length
daniellewalsh's review against another edition
4.0
Written in verse, this book feels like a completely new take on an affair. Ana and Connor have had a secret relationship for 3 years, but suddenly Connor dies and Ana cannot publicly grieve. ✨
Flitting back and forth in time, there are snippets of their time together contrasted with ‘now’, when Ana and Connor's wife are dealing (or not dealing) with the loss.
The format and the transitions were at times disjointed, which made the story feel very stop-start. However, I haven't read many books in verse, but I did love the lyricism, pace, and tone that it helped to create on the whole.
Flitting back and forth in time, there are snippets of their time together contrasted with ‘now’, when Ana and Connor's wife are dealing (or not dealing) with the loss.
The format and the transitions were at times disjointed, which made the story feel very stop-start. However, I haven't read many books in verse, but I did love the lyricism, pace, and tone that it helped to create on the whole.
rose900's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this - first of all, it being free-form stream of consciousness really added to the emotional impact for me. It's also difficult to make this kind of character and situation sympathetic but Crossan nailed it.
It's structured very well. Loved the ending.
It's structured very well. Loved the ending.
conversationpiece's review against another edition
4.0
really enjoyed this book! it's written in verse; but like a prose, so it was very easy to breeze through. the writing was accessible, and although the time frame jumped from the past to the present, these were made clear by little seperators.
I enjoyed reading about all of the characters, and how the minor ones contributed to the story and the affair of our main characters in subtlety. a lot of symbolism and metaphor was used which I adored too.
the guilt and grief was done so well from our main characters point of view, and although she wasn't all likeable, as a reader you could still sympathise with what she was going through alongside the families of the main characters affected by their infedelity.
pick it up if you want a quick, semi heavy read! :))
I enjoyed reading about all of the characters, and how the minor ones contributed to the story and the affair of our main characters in subtlety. a lot of symbolism and metaphor was used which I adored too.
the guilt and grief was done so well from our main characters point of view, and although she wasn't all likeable, as a reader you could still sympathise with what she was going through alongside the families of the main characters affected by their infedelity.
pick it up if you want a quick, semi heavy read! :))
jessica_patient's review against another edition
5.0
Here is the Beehive is not a typical novel about adultery told in a typical way. This is a book that needs to come with a warning - a warning that you're going to read this in one sitting as the story won't let you go.
Ana and Connor have been having an affair for three years, during stolen moments in pubs, hotels, work. Each other's texts are read, then deleted making their relationship invisible to the world around them and only visible to them. Told in verse, the book starts with the end of their relationship where Connor dies unexpectedly, leave Ana unable to share her grief and stand on the sidelines.
Struggling to cope with the grief as it consumes her, unable to speak to her husband about her sudden sadness and distancing herself from her family. She is trapped with this secret and with memories she can't share with anyone. There are no messages or letters or photos from their time together that she can cherish them. It is as if the affair only ever existed in her mind.
Here is the Beehive is gripping and lyrical, the words gliding along as snatches of their past reveal an affair that goes from being magical and perfect to slowly souring with Ana pushing for them to leave their spouses and Connor trying to avoid committing to their future. Secrets unravel about Ana and Connor's life during the flashbacks, and because Crossan wraps you up in the universe of this affair, it's a jolt when their spouses and children are mentioned. There are lives outside this bubble of two.
Usually a book about adultery is a straightforward story to tell but Crossan creates a complex and complicated situation not only in the way that the novel is laid out in verse but with these characters. Peeling away the layers of how a marriage is from the outside to look inside the private world of a long term marriage to the silences, the secrets to keep the peace, the comfort and the companionship. I loved the way the verses whipped you up into the story and pulls you into this complex and consuming relationship. Crossan looks at how betrayal, loss and obsession not only consumes Ana but starts impacting on her family, her work, her life.
I have read some of Sarah Crossan's young adult novels but I am going to try and read more of them and I can't wait for her next adult novel. This is a great read, and I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an ebook of this book.
Ana and Connor have been having an affair for three years, during stolen moments in pubs, hotels, work. Each other's texts are read, then deleted making their relationship invisible to the world around them and only visible to them. Told in verse, the book starts with the end of their relationship where Connor dies unexpectedly, leave Ana unable to share her grief and stand on the sidelines.
Struggling to cope with the grief as it consumes her, unable to speak to her husband about her sudden sadness and distancing herself from her family. She is trapped with this secret and with memories she can't share with anyone. There are no messages or letters or photos from their time together that she can cherish them. It is as if the affair only ever existed in her mind.
Here is the Beehive is gripping and lyrical, the words gliding along as snatches of their past reveal an affair that goes from being magical and perfect to slowly souring with Ana pushing for them to leave their spouses and Connor trying to avoid committing to their future. Secrets unravel about Ana and Connor's life during the flashbacks, and because Crossan wraps you up in the universe of this affair, it's a jolt when their spouses and children are mentioned. There are lives outside this bubble of two.
Usually a book about adultery is a straightforward story to tell but Crossan creates a complex and complicated situation not only in the way that the novel is laid out in verse but with these characters. Peeling away the layers of how a marriage is from the outside to look inside the private world of a long term marriage to the silences, the secrets to keep the peace, the comfort and the companionship. I loved the way the verses whipped you up into the story and pulls you into this complex and consuming relationship. Crossan looks at how betrayal, loss and obsession not only consumes Ana but starts impacting on her family, her work, her life.
I have read some of Sarah Crossan's young adult novels but I am going to try and read more of them and I can't wait for her next adult novel. This is a great read, and I highly recommend it!
Thank you to Netgalley for sending me an ebook of this book.