100% NZ-owned | All books ship from NZ 📚

Evie's Cat-alogue Sale 🐈

Miss Benson's Beetle

An uplifting story of female friendship against the odds
By Rachel Joyce
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.08 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 56,215 ratings, 8,150 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce is a poignant tale set in post-war Britain, following Miss Margery Benson, a disgruntled schoolteacher who embarks on an adventurous expedition to the other side of the world. Accompanied by the unpredictable Enid Pretty, they search for a mythical golden beetle in the New Caledonian jungle. Along their journey, they encounter unexpected challenges, forge a unique friendship, and discover the transformative power of stepping outside one's comfort zone.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2600
AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 2-3 weeks
Add to Wishlist

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you love stories about unexpected friendships and adventurous journeys. Set in the 1950s, it follows two women on an exotic expedition that tests their limits and reveals hidden strengths. Filled with humour and heart, this novel explores themes of self-discovery and resilience in the face of life's challenges.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Miss Benson's Beetle

Regular print version previously published by: Dial Press.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The bestselling author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry delivers an intoxicating adventure story about female friendship and having the courage to live your dreams, however unlikely they may be.

WINNER OF THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE | BEST PUBLISHED NOVEL
WOMAN & HOME BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR and A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

'The perfect escape novel for our troubled times.' — PATRICK GALE

It is 1950. In a devastating moment of clarity, Margery Benson abandons her dead-end job and advertises for an assistant to accompany her on an expedition. She is going to travel to the other side of the world to search for a beetle that may or may not exist.

Enid Pretty, in her unlikely pink travel suit, is not the companion Margery had in mind. And yet together they will be drawn into an adventure that will exceed every expectation. They will risk everything, break all the rules, and at the top of a red mountain, discover their best selves.

This is a story that is less about what can be found than the belief it might be found; it is an intoxicating adventure story but it is also about what it means to be a woman and a tender exploration of a friendship that defies all boundaries.

'A girl's own adventure...This is Rachel Joyce's best book yet...Exciting, moving and full of unexpected turns.' — THE TIMES

'Brilliant and elegant and wise...powerful and moving...I can't recommend it enough.' — JOANNA CANNON

'A beautiful portrayal of female friendship in all its frailties, contradictions and strengths.' — RAYNOR WINN

WOMAN & HOME BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020; DAILY MAIL BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020; BOOKMARK BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020; GOOD HOUSEKEEPING BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR 2020

Rachel Joyce's latest novel, The Homemade God is published in April 2025.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce is heralded as an extraordinary adventure novel about unlikely friendships and second chances. Critics praise it for being exciting, moving, and full of unexpected twists, highlighting its rich characterisation reminiscent of Dickens. The story, set in the 1950s, is lauded for its humour and heartfelt exploration of women's lives and the enduring effects of war, described as life-affirming and joyously escapist.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780552779487

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 April 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Black Swan

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 196.0mm

Weight: 286g

Pages: 416

Collections

Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Rachel Joyce

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

About the Author

Rachel Joyce is the author of the Sunday Times and international bestsellers The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Perfect, The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, Maureen Fry and the Angel of the North, The Music Shop, Miss Benson's Beetle, and a collection of interlinked short stories, A Snow Garden & Other Stories. Rachel's books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was shortlisted for the Commonwealth Book Prize and longlisted for the Man Booker Prize. The critically acclaimed film of the novel, for which Rachel also wrote the screenplay, was released in 2023. Miss Benson's Beetle won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize in 2021. Rachel was awarded the Specsavers National Book Awards New Writer of the Year in December 2012 and was shortlisted for the UK Author of the Year in 2014. In 2024 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Kingston University. Rachel has written over twenty original afternoon plays and adaptations of the classics for BBC Radio 4. She lives with her family near Stroud.

Also by Rachel Joyce

View all

More from General Fiction

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent specialist on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our cozy 200m2 warehouse in Auckland holds over 20,000 books in-stock so you're not waiting for books to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Pick Ups

Auckland Pick Ups

We're an online-only store but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

header_image
Book Hero
5.0
789 reviews
Wendy G_image
Wendy G
7 hours ago
Verified
Excellent and speedy service, thank you!
Donna A_image
Donna A
24 hours ago
Verified
Great online ordering and they provide gift wrapping and gift message which is wonderful. when your family is overseas.
Heather W_image
Heather W
1 day ago
Verified
It's good to know that I can rely on Book Hero whenever I need to find a book I am unable to find elsewhere.
Ann W_image
Ann W
1 day ago
Verified
Very user-friendly book ordering system, good selection of books on offer and prompt delivery direct from Auckland. Happy customer here, thank you.
Rene L_image
Rene L
2 days ago
Verified
Great store, good prices, including the online price. The website was easy to navigate and I'm grateful that the books I ordered was available immediately. Ordered on the Friday and they arrived on the Monday morning, wow... Super impressed. Thank you BookHero, keep up the awesomeness.
Show more
Lance O_image
Lance O
2 days ago
Verified
SUPER FAST DELIVERY, well packaged. Easy to purchase.