Wow, this character is a mess. ( )

A novel in verse.
If I had seen this book on the shelves and considered reading it, I would have been immediately put off by the verse format. Strangely, however, it came to me in audiobook format and I had absolutely no idea that it was written as poetry until I investigated other reviews once I'd finished. It made me rethink my reaction to the book, although my rating remained the same.

Ana is a married woman, Connor is a married man and their relationship seems to be stuck going nowhere. One or other of them puts a stop to it, only to find themselves together again.
Ana is his solicitor and they met when she was drawing up his will, so when he dies, it is his wife, Rebecca who approaches Ana.
An interesting scenario, a toxic relationship, a short book, written in verse.

The author chose to narrate the audiobook herself. Probably a good idea as only she could really interpret the verse correctly. She did a good job, although it was somewhat monotone in delivery.

The main reason for my 3 star rating, however, was the disjointed nature of the narrative. It seemed to skip about in time and between characters, so that I had to keep readjusting my brain to the changes. This was a shame, because I might otherwise have found myself enjoying my first ever book written in verse. ( )

Oh, geez. Once I got into the rhythm of the almost free-verse writing and quieted my inner voice telling Ana to stop this all-consuming affair with a married man and get back to caring for her own family and marriage, I enjoyed this different approach to this story told in first person. When Ana, a lawyer, finds out from the wife of the man with whom she had an affair, that he is dead life changes and not for the better. Of all things, she tried to befriend his widow. Going back and forth in time, Ana delves into what the obsessive affair meant to her and what it is doing to her now that its ended. This is an honest, almost dispassionate look at how difficult relationships can be. ( )

As Here is the Beehive is told in verse I thought I would attempt a review in verse. I am in no way trying to imitate the quality of Sarah Crossan's writing. I just wanted to try something different.

Here is the Beehive,
an innovative story told in verse,
by turns heartbreaking and infuriating.

Ana Kelly, probate lawyer, mother, wife, lover, mistress,
failing at all since the loss of Connor.
Unable to publicly grieve, holding sorrow in, ready to explode.

Ana, you're unlikeable, your behaviour is out of control
and obsessive
and yet…..and yet…..
I sort of understood.

Through my fingers, my eyes traced your spiral of destruction,
heading towards the inevitable mess
you were creating
and
I felt moved.

A story hard to put down, I had to know
the outcome.
I hoped.

Sarah Crossan is a beautiful and lyrical writer
with depth and raw emotion
shining through every word.
Tough subject matter, real life
is not faultless.

But Here is the Beehive almost is. ( )

Here Is The Beehive is an ugly book. Not ugly in terms of its writing but ugly in the sense that it is about extremely flawed individuals who engage in distasteful actions. The protagonist especially is not a likable person--she cheats on her husband, neglects her children, judges people superficially, and wishes her lover's wife dead. It is hard to find sympathy for such a self-centered and self-destructive individual, yet Sarah Crossan humanizes her by showing how lies and grief can tear a person apart. Narrated entirely in verse, Here Is The Beehive is both raw and lyrical, and Crossan does a great job of capturing these complex emotions in just a few simple words. The contents of the novel get dark; strong trigger warning for people dealing with depression and/or emotional and physical cheating. Here Is The Beehive is something that readers will likely find polarizing but I recommend it regardless for its unique writing and storytelling.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company for the advance reading copy. Here Is The Beehive will be available in bookstores on November 17, 2020. ( )