The Hive

This debut novel got a lot of buzz when a publishers' bidding war resulted in a six-figure contract for Hornby, a talented newbie author with well-known writers in the family. (Nick Hornby is her brother and Robert Harris, her husband.) Taking place over the course of a year at St. Ambrose Church Primary, this is a delectable comedy of manners about mothers who congregate during drop-off and pickup, hold fundraisers, and curry favor with Bea, acknowledged queen of the St. Ambrose hive. When the school year starts, recently divorced Rachel, age 40, discovers she has been unceremoniously dropped by Bea and she struggles to find her new place in the social structure. Hornby observes Rachel briefly, then turns to other mothers in her circle, moving on from each and before coming back—much as Rachel's mother checks on the bees in her backyard hive.