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 Enlightenment of Bees  By  cover art

The Enlightenment of Bees

By: Rachel Linden
Narrated by: Madison Lawrence
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

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

In a romantic adventure across the globe, The Enlightenment of Bees beautifully explores what it means to find the sweet spot in life where our greatest passions meet the world’s greatest need. “I combed through the pages with delight. This book is going to cause a real buzz.” (Debbie Macomber, number one New York Times best-selling author)

Sometimes a shattered dream leads to an amazing journey.

At 26, apprentice baker Mia West has her entire life planned out: a Craftsman cottage in Seattle, a job baking at the Butter Emporium, and her first love - her boyfriend, Ethan - by her side. But when Ethan declares he “needs some space”, Mia’s carefully planned future crumbles.

Feeling adrift, Mia joins her vivacious housemate Rosie on a humanitarian trip around the world funded by a reclusive billionaire. Along with a famous grunge rock star, a Rwandan immigrant, and an unsettlingly attractive Hawaiian urban farmer named Kai, Mia and Rosie embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

From the slums of Mumbai to a Hungarian border camp during the refugee crisis, Mia’s heart is challenged and changed in astonishing ways/ways she never could have imagined. As she grapples with how to make a difference in a complicated world, Mia realizes she must choose between the life she thought she wanted and the life unfolding before her.

©2019 Rachel Linden (P)2019 Thomas Nelson

Editor's Pick

A delightful adventure
"The Enlightenment of Bees was just the tale my wanderlust-laden heart needed this summer. There’s romance, there’s travel, there’s an eccentric cast of characters, a plucky heroine…add in a chilled glass of rosé, a little sunshine, and my favorite lounge chair, and you can see why it was so easy to fall under Rachel Linden’s spell. This was also my first time listening to a book narrated by Madison Lawrence, and the slight huskiness to her voice combined with her easy way with humor made it feel like I was listening to an old friend."
Katie O., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The Enlightenment of Bees

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    314
  • 4 Stars
    142
  • 3 Stars
    69
  • 2 Stars
    26
  • 1 Stars
    8
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    313
  • 4 Stars
    130
  • 3 Stars
    45
  • 2 Stars
    13
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    276
  • 4 Stars
    136
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    29
  • 1 Stars
    9

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

Absolute Gold - Read this book!

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The performance was amazing - the accents, voices, and all. And the content. I literally gasped out loud at certain points. I laughed, I cried, I got all the feels. I really felt connected to the characters and saw a lot of my own life within the words. I love the way the author describes the space around her. From the feel and smell of food, to the vivid colors and landscapes. I highly recommend this book.

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

Great Read

I loved the story and the adventure it takes you. I recommend the book. Wonderful story.

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

Here’s to more people like these characters!

I loved that this story revolves more around Mia finding herself than her love relationships, and that the story encourages people to find where their passion binds with their soulful wish to do good in this world! I also wish people would read this book for a glimpse at what it means to be a refugee…💜☯️🧘‍♂️🦋

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

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

Had potential but didn’t deliver

This book could have been so much better. The main character’s frequent habit of referring to her future, purpose-filled self as “Saint Mia” was annoying and ruined what the author was going for, which is how it feels to be lost in terms of your career goals, and trying to find a path to do good in the world. The other characters were interesting but underdeveloped. The narrator was wonderful, however, which is why I finished the book.

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

Enjoyable with some thought provoking ideas

I enjoyed this book, and plan to take one of its ideas forward in my life. I will look for more from this author as well.

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

Thoroughly enjoyed! inspiring!

I enjoyed the message in the story and characters in the book. I wanted the story to keep going!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

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

Thought provoking?

What is your life's best work? How can you make the world a better place?

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

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

Good, not great

I finished this book. The narrator did a good job IMO, but I did not really like the story. It wasn’t terrible, but I probably wouldn’t recommend it to a friend. And I did not like it enough to ever listen to it again. It was just okay.

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

Makes me want to do more and raise bees!

I enjoyed this book. Told my husband I wanted to raise a colony of bees. And I also wanted to do more… I see travel plans in my future.

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

Loved it!

This was a very entertaining book with warmth and adventure. Great book! You’ll love it!

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

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful