Sample
  • The Secret Life of Bees

  • By: Sue Monk Kidd
  • Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
  • Length: 9 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (7,979 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Secret Life of Bees

By: Sue Monk Kidd
Narrated by: Jenna Lamia
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Sue Monk Kidd's ravishing debut novel has stolen the hearts of reviewers and readers alike with its strong, assured voice. Set in South Carolina in 1964, The Secret Life of Bees tells the story of Lily Owens, whose life has been shaped around the blurred memory of the afternoon her mother was killed.

When Lily's fierce-hearted "stand-in mother", Rosaleen, insults three of the town's fiercest racists, Lily decides they should both escape to Tiburon, South Carolina - a town that holds the secret to her mother's past. There, they are taken in by an eccentric trio of black beekeeping sisters who introduce Lily to a mesmerizing world of bees, honey, and the Black Madonna who presides over their household.

This is a remarkable story about divine female power and the transforming power of love - a story that women will share and pass on to their daughters for years to come.

©2003 Sue Monk Kidd (P)2008 Penguin

Featured Article: 25+ Quotes About the Power of Kindness


Kindness is the quality of being considerate, compassionate, generous, gentle, and caring towards others without expecting anything in return. Often described as a virtue, kindness is also a strength—in fact, it may be one of humanity's greatest superpowers. Whenever you need a little encouragement or gentle reminder, turn to these quotes from authors who understand the power of kindness and express it quite remarkably.

What listeners say about The Secret Life of Bees

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    6,047
  • 4 Stars
    1,376
  • 3 Stars
    388
  • 2 Stars
    87
  • 1 Stars
    81
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,713
  • 4 Stars
    772
  • 3 Stars
    188
  • 2 Stars
    38
  • 1 Stars
    53
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5,186
  • 4 Stars
    1,060
  • 3 Stars
    346
  • 2 Stars
    78
  • 1 Stars
    61

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great story!!

I loved the characters and the way the characters were acted out. Definitely recommend! Thank you!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

absolute perfection!!

I didn't want this story to end! I felt every heart break and joy. This may be the best book I have ever listened to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Discriptive characters that breathe life to the novel

I read The Secret Life of Bees twenty years ago
and was again swept away in a new light by the heartwarming characters in this novel. The protagonist in the book grows emotionally and you like her more with each chapter.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Reviting

From the first page on I couldn't stop listening. The characters were life like and described beautifully, I could picture them as I listened

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written!!

Great story and loved the narrator. Easy to follow. Uplifting and positive. And even learned some amazing things about bees.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Perfect story, fake accent

The story itself is a perfect warm story. I thoroughly enjoyed this and will go back and read it. The only thing was the narrator. The accent is fake. It takes away from the story. I wish I would have read it instead. Why couldn’t they have gotten a narrator with a genuine accent?
It may not bother someone who does not know the difference. But it is quite exaggerated and almost embarrassing. Still worth a listen for sure because the story is gold standard!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable listen

All I will say is that all of the hulla-bu-loo about this book is well-deserved. If you are on the fence about whether or not to listen to it, I recommend going ahead and doing so.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful book

I loved this I am going to by the hard copy and read it to my grand children

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful words... beautiful performance!

The story captures the time and place... the South in the 60s. Haunting & beautiful. Joyous & devastating. Deep, rich characters and relationships. Loved it!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

very good

I liked the tones and inflections of the reader. nicely done. loved the story. love Lily.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!