I bought this book because I liked the movie and I had put off reading it because I was worried I’d be disappointed in it, but I really wasn’t.

The writing style and the rhythm of the text really suited me; and the subject matter was a good combination of light and heavy.

If you liked the movie, it was fairly faithful to the book so you’re likely to enjoy the book too. I definitely recommend The Secret Life of Bees to those who like general fiction. The main character may be a teen, but the book reads as general fiction, not YA. Although, I think if you are a YA reader looking to branch out into general fiction like me, this may be a good book to try. Just be aware of the subject matter: there are a lot of racial tensions due to being set in the South in 1964 (including some characters using the n-word), the main character is abused by her father, and there is a suicide.