Holly McNee Kensen is a thirty-year-old beekeeper. She works at the local Publix, tends to her bees, and still lives at home with her demanding, hypochondriac of a mother, who she calls the Queen Bee. Holly has had a crush on their neighbor, Archie, ever since his wife was killed in a tragic accident. Archie barely knows that Holly is alive, but he welcomes her relationship with his three young sons. Because that means that he doesn't have to pay as much attention to them. Holly loves Archie's three sons and is eager to spend time with them. Until Archie marries her complete opposite, Sharon. The boys hate Sharon and Holly is convinced that Archie's marriage is doing them serious harm. Her life becomes even more complicated when her older sister, Leslie leaves her husband and returns home to Sullivan's Island. Holly and Leslie have always had a contentious relationship, but is feeling vulnerable because of her husband's big revelation. When tragedy strikes the neighborhood, it becomes clear that the three women have to stick together. Will they survive the struggles or will it be the final thing that tears them apart for good?
Queen Bee is your typical Beach Read. It has your young, single woman. A handsome man. Some serious struggles. And a happy ending - for at least one of the characters. What Queen Bee has that most Beach Reads does not, is a cross-dressing husband. I had mixed emotions about all of the characters. All of them were flawed in their own way, some more deeply than others, but the author calls out their flaws. Like when Leslie admits that one of her frustrations is Holly's "martyr complex." And she is right, I couldn't place my finger on what I didn't like about Holly, but that was it. And I am not sure that the author handled the whole cross-dressing husband in a way that was completely politically correct. I felt myself cringe a few times at expressions or demeanors. Nothing was blatant and I am just going to trust that the author's editor has been through inclusivity training. I was glad about the way things ended. Just proof that sometimes unanswered prayers are the greatest gifts. -- CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS --
Bottom Line - I usually love Dorothea Bento Frank and I appreciate her effort at bringing light to a topic that is probably relatively unknown among her core readers, but I was unsure if the situation with Leslie and Char was handled in an inclusive manner. I would love to hear what others thought.
Details:
- Queen Bee by Dorothea Benton Frank
- On Facebook
- Pages: 384
- Publisher: HarperCollins
- Publication Date: 5/28/19
- Buy it Here!
- Thank you to NetGalley for the free book in exchange for a review!
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