The Secret Life of Bees Audiobook By Sue Monk Kidd cover art

The Secret Life of Bees

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 months free
Try for $0.00
Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
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 3 months. Cancel anytime.

The Secret Life of Bees

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

$0.00/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends July 31, 2025 at 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $18.00

Buy for $18.00

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel
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 Coming of Age Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Heartfelt Feel-Good

Featured Article: 45+ Quotes About Writing from Famous Writers


No matter how passionate you are about it, writing can be difficult. Whenever you’re struggling with writer’s block, rejection, competition, insecurity, or any of the countless obstacles that wordsmiths encounter daily, it can help to get encouragement from those who have successfully overcome the very same challenges. If you're looking for inspiration to start your next project, these quotes about writing from writers themselves are sure to be welcome reading!

Featured Article 45+ Quotes About Writing from Famous Writers
Powerful Storytelling • Beautiful Character Development • Emotional Depth • Vivid Southern Setting • Immersive Performance
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
This is a great book. It is a wonderful story and I love the way the narrator reads it. The movie is really good, and I saw it first, but the book is so much better - as is usually the case.

Good book

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This audio book is delightful and inspiring. I enjoyed the gentle rhythm of the book. This is a presentation of powerful women who live a life of integrity and wisdom.

The Secret Life of Bees

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a lovely story, the color of golden honey. I actually listened to the whole thing in one day. A beautiful, fistful of unconditional love. I highly recommend it, especially if you're home alone.

"All those Mommas..."

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
We all have secret lives - but there is a universality of humanity that makes us all the same. Their is a beautiful poignancy about this book that takes me back to haunt my own childhood. The narrator does such an exquisite job that it genuinely feels as if Lily is telling her own story with the beautiful simplicity of a 14 year old girl struggling to survive in an all too common reality.

Secret Lives

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Listened to this book prior to watching the movie. I loved it! Loved Lily's character and the entertainment of the Boatwright sisters. I'm a sucker for southern pre WWII stories. Wonderful depiction of a summer in the south.

LOVE Jenna Lamia

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I didn't know what to expect when I began listening to the Secret Lives of Bees. What a story unfolded! I didn't expect to be drawn in to this story in many ways. But... I was.

Unexpected depth

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I loved the bare thoughts coming from Lily; the authentic and loving August. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive writing. Though I don't believe in their form of worship, I loved that these women were so devoted to it, and so strong. I was pulled in and became part of this group of women, feeling their joys and sorrows and aching. The audible performance was perfect.

Excellent Writing!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I love this narrator and every book she narrates comes to life in the most wonderful way! This book was an uplifting story of finding your way which we all can relate to. Beautifully written one of my top ten favorites!

An absolutely beautiful book!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Love Jemma Lamia as she tends to bring anything she reads to life. The book was great and I am now looking forward to seeing the movie.

Enjoyable

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book was soooo amazing, I cried at the end, and at other parts, because it was so good.

Review

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews