Between You, Me, and the Honeybees Novel
Between You, Me, and the Honeybees by Amelia Diane Coombs is a young adult romance novel about Josie Hazeldine, a recent high school graduate who wants to stay in her California hometown and work in her family honey business instead of following the college plan her mother expects. Her summer becomes more complicated when secrets, anxiety, beekeeping, and romance collide.
Summary of Between You, Me, and the Honeybees Novel
Between You, Me, and the Honeybees follows Josie Hazeldine during a summer that should feel free and bright, but instead becomes full of pressure. Josie loves beekeeping and wants to take over Hazeldine Honey, yet her mother believes she is preparing for college. Josie has turned down that path, but she has not found the courage to tell the truth.
While carrying this secret, Josie also manages anxiety and the fear of disappointing the person she loves most. Her life becomes even more complicated when she grows closer to Ezra, the son of a rival family. Their connection is sweet and hopeful, but it also forces Josie to face what she wants, what she hides, and what honesty will cost.
The novel is gentle, heartfelt, and full of summer atmosphere. It blends romance with family expectations, mental health, small business dreams, and the quiet discipline of beekeeping. It is a strong choice for readers who enjoy emotional young adult stories with warmth, secrets, and characters learning to choose their own future.
Characters in Between You, Me, and the Honeybees Novel
Josie Hazeldine: The main heroine. She is passionate about beekeeping, deeply connected to her family business, and afraid to admit that she wants a different future.
Ezra: The son of a rival family. His growing bond with Josie adds romance, tenderness, and complication to her summer.
Josie’s mother: A loving but expectant parent who believes Josie is heading to college and wants a secure future for her daughter.
Nan: Josie’s close friend, who helps show Josie’s emotional world beyond family pressure and romance.
The Hazeldine Honey business: The family business functions almost like a living part of the story, representing home, work, identity, and Josie’s dream.