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.

5 stars

*Free ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*