The Hive 

Author: Gill Hornsby

Mom Diva and Queen Bee Beatrice runs the show at St. Ambrose’ Elementary School.   She controls fundraisers, social events, and the Power Clique, a rotating group of fawning mothers whom she picks to do all the work; for Beatrice is just “too busy” being annoying and nasty to do any of the events herself.  But then the other mothers of The Hive start rebelling against Bea’s cruelty and her nasty daughter Scarlett’s abusiveness to the other children.  There’s Heather, mother of one, who falls all over her low self esteem by volunteering for, well, everything.  There’s Georgie, cool, calm, aloof – and lonely – and Jo, her best friend.  Then there’s Rachel who observes and disengages, until she finds her back to the wall.  And when new headmaster Tom Orchard starts setting the moms of St. Ambrose on their toes, chaos and power structures topple and shift.

In an absolutely alluring, funny, heartwarming way, Gill Hornsby’s unique talent sets the bees in the St. Ambrose hive buzzing and stinging, as each Mom pursues her own agenda while trying desperately to be part of a community.  Rachel’s mother is a true beekeeper and parallels the mother’s power plays with her real bee community, and Rachel and her mom form a strong relationship as Rachel learns the rules of the hive!

This is such a witty, engaging novel with emails, letters, dialogue, plot and characters that hone you right into the heart of women everywhere that you simply cannot put it down.  With finesses and originality, we discover a laughing out loud novel that astounds in voices that show all the vices and weaknesses – as well as strengths – of moms with too much time on their hands.  And yet we love to hate them and then fall in love with each character as we learn who they really are and as they come together in this stunningly good novel.

And when Tom and Rachel form a team: well, watch out!  You have to read this novel.  It reveals women in all their facets of friendship and rivalry and Hornsby is one of the most talented writers of this theme that I have ever read.  Perfectly perfect!

Ratings are based on a 5-star scale

Overall: 4.5

Review by Broad “A” – Ava

We received a copy of this title for our book review. All opinions are our own

The Hive: A Novelis available on Amazon.com and booksellers nationwide