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A Far-flung Life: A Novel
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From the author of the acclaimed bestseller The Light Between Oceans comes a breathtaking and epic novel set in the vast outback of Australia—about tragedy, family secrets, and the enduring power of love.
When we do something that can’t be undone or mended, how do we go on living? How do we find our North Star when there is no right answer? These are the questions at the center of M. L. Stedman’s unforgettable and magisterial new novel, A Far-flung Life. From the author of the beloved and bestselling The Light Between Oceans, this is a sweeping and epic story of a family, a tragedy, and the aftermath that reverberates for decades.
Remote Western Australia, 1958: here, for generations, the MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station, Meredith Downs. It is a million acres, an ocean of arid land. On an ordinary day, on a lonely road, under the unending blue sky, patriarch Phil MacBride swerves to avoid a kangaroo. In seconds the lives of the entire MacBride family are shattered. And then, tragedy revisits when a twist of consequences claims the life of one sibling, and leads another to give up everything for the sake of an innocent child. Matt, the youngest MacBride, is plunged into a moral and emotional journey for which there is no map, no guide. The secrets at the heart of this gutting and beautiful story force him to choose between love and duty, sacrifice and happiness.
A Far-flung Life is a tale about family and belonging, fate and time. It is about people trying to do their best, and each, for private reasons, seeking shelter from the storm of life.
Can a fleeting moment unravel a whole life, mar it indelibly and irrevocably? Can compassion, resilience and forgiveness allow us to come to terms with our human imperfections? These are the questions Stedman asks in A Far-flung Life, her profoundly moving, uplifting, and luminous new novel about what the heart can endure for the sake of love.
When we do something that can’t be undone or mended, how do we go on living? How do we find our North Star when there is no right answer? These are the questions at the center of M. L. Stedman’s unforgettable and magisterial new novel, A Far-flung Life. From the author of the beloved and bestselling The Light Between Oceans, this is a sweeping and epic story of a family, a tragedy, and the aftermath that reverberates for decades.
Remote Western Australia, 1958: here, for generations, the MacBrides have lived on a vast sheep station, Meredith Downs. It is a million acres, an ocean of arid land. On an ordinary day, on a lonely road, under the unending blue sky, patriarch Phil MacBride swerves to avoid a kangaroo. In seconds the lives of the entire MacBride family are shattered. And then, tragedy revisits when a twist of consequences claims the life of one sibling, and leads another to give up everything for the sake of an innocent child. Matt, the youngest MacBride, is plunged into a moral and emotional journey for which there is no map, no guide. The secrets at the heart of this gutting and beautiful story force him to choose between love and duty, sacrifice and happiness.
A Far-flung Life is a tale about family and belonging, fate and time. It is about people trying to do their best, and each, for private reasons, seeking shelter from the storm of life.
Can a fleeting moment unravel a whole life, mar it indelibly and irrevocably? Can compassion, resilience and forgiveness allow us to come to terms with our human imperfections? These are the questions Stedman asks in A Far-flung Life, her profoundly moving, uplifting, and luminous new novel about what the heart can endure for the sake of love.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 3, 2026
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About the author
M.L. Stedman
5 books3,703 followersM.L. Stedman was born and raised in Western Australia and now lives in London. The Light Between Oceans is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 27, 2025
448 pages ... and sooo good.
M.L. Stedman writes to ask us (1) how we can continue living when we feel we’ve done something that can’t be undone or fixed and (2) if today’s society prevents us from choosing ‘forgetment’.
The setting is paramount to this novel and I love how it is played out in the MacBride family’s experiences. Each character is seeking refuge from something, and while some rely on the remoteness for secrecy, others discover that they’ve been denied a future due to a single moment in their past. Isolation, a choice to forget what they can’t escape, and a limited way of communication allow those on Meredith Downs sheep station to keep putting one foot in front of the other and surviving. Stedman expertly highlights the notions that there’s no one right way to deal with intractable problems, that forgetting and forgiving go hand in hand, and that it’s the power of love that often keeps us afloat so we can heal.
Things that gave me pause for thought:
❣You don’t often get to choose how life turns out
❣Sometimes it just takes one person to —---
❣The thing that hurts us the most may just be the thing that helps us heal
❣Running from problems doesn’t solve anything
❣The value in the oxygen of ignorance
❣Is there ever a time when our secrets aren’t ours to tell?
❣Time and experience shape us more than we realize
❣Just because we’ve heard the song from one bird, doesn’t mean we understand the whole bird
❣There are things that need to wait for kinder times
This is a ‘forever shelf’ book, one that I know I’ll read again and again. It’s rich in emotion and offers plenty to think about. I won’t forget the characters or their experiences any time soon.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
M.L. Stedman writes to ask us (1) how we can continue living when we feel we’ve done something that can’t be undone or fixed and (2) if today’s society prevents us from choosing ‘forgetment’.
The setting is paramount to this novel and I love how it is played out in the MacBride family’s experiences. Each character is seeking refuge from something, and while some rely on the remoteness for secrecy, others discover that they’ve been denied a future due to a single moment in their past. Isolation, a choice to forget what they can’t escape, and a limited way of communication allow those on Meredith Downs sheep station to keep putting one foot in front of the other and surviving. Stedman expertly highlights the notions that there’s no one right way to deal with intractable problems, that forgetting and forgiving go hand in hand, and that it’s the power of love that often keeps us afloat so we can heal.
Things that gave me pause for thought:
❣You don’t often get to choose how life turns out
❣Sometimes it just takes one person to —---
❣The thing that hurts us the most may just be the thing that helps us heal
❣Running from problems doesn’t solve anything
❣The value in the oxygen of ignorance
❣Is there ever a time when our secrets aren’t ours to tell?
❣Time and experience shape us more than we realize
❣Just because we’ve heard the song from one bird, doesn’t mean we understand the whole bird
❣There are things that need to wait for kinder times
This is a ‘forever shelf’ book, one that I know I’ll read again and again. It’s rich in emotion and offers plenty to think about. I won’t forget the characters or their experiences any time soon.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
June 5, 2025
About 10 years ago, I visited CW Agency to meet my (amazing) soon-to-be-agent Sue Armstrong. I left with a huge (and very generous) tote bag filled with the books of authors Sue represents, and one of those books was a debut called The Light Between Oceans.
I fell in love with that book.
I fell in love SO MUCH, for the past decade I have (on many occasions) quizzed Sue as to whether there might be a second novel. 'Not yet!' was always the answer. Until now.
Goodreads, please let me introduce you to one of the most beautiful stories you will ever read. I hesitate to tell you what it's about, because it's about so many things ... but I will try.
This is a multi-generational novel, which begins in 1958, and is set on a vast sheep station, in Western Australia, run by the MacBrides. What happens to the MacBrides, I will leave you to discover for yourselves, but suffice to say they are vulnerable, not only to the brutality of the Western Australian landscape and the extremes of nature ... but also to the brutality of fate. To God's throw of the dice.
This is a story of how a moment's misjudgement leaves you with a burden you'll carry for the rest of your life; how, even in the middle of a million acres, you can still feel like a prisoner, and how - like the miners who descend on the land - you need to decide what should rise to the surface, and what is best left underground.
Not only is this an utterly BEAUTIFUL story and so deeply insightful, it's also written with such skill I felt as though I'd sat with Margot on the verandah at Meredith Downs, and she had turned to me and said 'let me tell you about the MacBride family'. When I reached the final page, I burst into tears - not because the story was upsetting, but because I didn't want her to stop talking.
The publisher bills this as 'the landmark publication of 2026'. For me, it's the landmark publication of a decade. It's truly a masterpiece and I want to march people to the pre-order pages, because it's the kind of book you will remember and treasure for the rest of your life, and I love the very bones of it.
I fell in love with that book.
I fell in love SO MUCH, for the past decade I have (on many occasions) quizzed Sue as to whether there might be a second novel. 'Not yet!' was always the answer. Until now.
Goodreads, please let me introduce you to one of the most beautiful stories you will ever read. I hesitate to tell you what it's about, because it's about so many things ... but I will try.
This is a multi-generational novel, which begins in 1958, and is set on a vast sheep station, in Western Australia, run by the MacBrides. What happens to the MacBrides, I will leave you to discover for yourselves, but suffice to say they are vulnerable, not only to the brutality of the Western Australian landscape and the extremes of nature ... but also to the brutality of fate. To God's throw of the dice.
This is a story of how a moment's misjudgement leaves you with a burden you'll carry for the rest of your life; how, even in the middle of a million acres, you can still feel like a prisoner, and how - like the miners who descend on the land - you need to decide what should rise to the surface, and what is best left underground.
Not only is this an utterly BEAUTIFUL story and so deeply insightful, it's also written with such skill I felt as though I'd sat with Margot on the verandah at Meredith Downs, and she had turned to me and said 'let me tell you about the MacBride family'. When I reached the final page, I burst into tears - not because the story was upsetting, but because I didn't want her to stop talking.
The publisher bills this as 'the landmark publication of 2026'. For me, it's the landmark publication of a decade. It's truly a masterpiece and I want to march people to the pre-order pages, because it's the kind of book you will remember and treasure for the rest of your life, and I love the very bones of it.
November 12, 2025
Actual rating 4.5.
What an epic read this was! I don’t think I’d actually read the author’s previous novel, but will have to after this.
This is a novel that spans decades as we follow the MacBride family in rural Western Australia, and all the tragedies that unfold for them. The farm style setting (understatement given the size!) and darkness that runs through this novel reminded me a little of one of my other favourites, Go As A River by Shelley Read, although the story itself is quite different. It can be a hard read at times, and there are a lot of morally grey areas which really made me think, but it was also full of joy, wonder, love and hope. Definitely have the tissues handy for this one!
What an epic read this was! I don’t think I’d actually read the author’s previous novel, but will have to after this.
This is a novel that spans decades as we follow the MacBride family in rural Western Australia, and all the tragedies that unfold for them. The farm style setting (understatement given the size!) and darkness that runs through this novel reminded me a little of one of my other favourites, Go As A River by Shelley Read, although the story itself is quite different. It can be a hard read at times, and there are a lot of morally grey areas which really made me think, but it was also full of joy, wonder, love and hope. Definitely have the tissues handy for this one!
August 19, 2025
A devastating but beautiful read…
August 30, 2025
The story is beautiful and so well told. I marked up my copy with notes on tragedy, shame, family, forgiveness and courage (I am usually more of a vibes reader so this says a lot for the exceptional writing and headspace this book takes you).
This will break you down, leave you on edge and the build you up again. The landscape and community resilience of the place is as much of a character as any, but I especially warmed to the POW character (heart in my throat still for him).
Well done Ms Steadman. What an epic novel should be.
Note there are some sensitive subjects in here but she covers them tender prose.
Thank you to DoubleDay UK for the ARC
This will break you down, leave you on edge and the build you up again. The landscape and community resilience of the place is as much of a character as any, but I especially warmed to the POW character (heart in my throat still for him).
Well done Ms Steadman. What an epic novel should be.
Note there are some sensitive subjects in here but she covers them tender prose.
Thank you to DoubleDay UK for the ARC
October 24, 2025
This is a tricky book to review without giving away spoilers. So, in a departure from my usual approach, here are my thoughts.
Set in Western Australia and spanning 40+ years starting in the late the 1950s, A Far-flung Life is a tale of sheep, rocks, kangaroos, weather, mining, POWs, gossips, cricket, overzealous policemen, car accidents, boats, secrets and sacrifices.
It embraces memories, forgetments (you have to read the book), tragedies, relationships, fortitude, resilience, despair, inflexibility, courage, consequences, grievous predicaments, innocence and guilt, acceptance and forgiveness.
It’s a saga recording the history of a family that experiences more than its fair share of trauma. It’s about doing the right things, not always doing things right. Protecting what’s precious. Acting with compassion in the face of adversity.
M L Stedman’s writing transports you to a million acres of pastures, creeks, lakes and gorges replete with flora and fauna, benign and pernicious.
Melding wry humour with poignant pathos, it explores the boundaries of emotional endurance and the depths of aching regret.
A richly-drawn character driven epic that I have definitely filed under ‘memory’ not ‘forgetment’.
A Far-flung Life will be published in March 2026, a date well worth noting in your calendar.
Set in Western Australia and spanning 40+ years starting in the late the 1950s, A Far-flung Life is a tale of sheep, rocks, kangaroos, weather, mining, POWs, gossips, cricket, overzealous policemen, car accidents, boats, secrets and sacrifices.
It embraces memories, forgetments (you have to read the book), tragedies, relationships, fortitude, resilience, despair, inflexibility, courage, consequences, grievous predicaments, innocence and guilt, acceptance and forgiveness.
It’s a saga recording the history of a family that experiences more than its fair share of trauma. It’s about doing the right things, not always doing things right. Protecting what’s precious. Acting with compassion in the face of adversity.
M L Stedman’s writing transports you to a million acres of pastures, creeks, lakes and gorges replete with flora and fauna, benign and pernicious.
Melding wry humour with poignant pathos, it explores the boundaries of emotional endurance and the depths of aching regret.
A richly-drawn character driven epic that I have definitely filed under ‘memory’ not ‘forgetment’.
A Far-flung Life will be published in March 2026, a date well worth noting in your calendar.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh wow, this story had me absolutely enraptured all the way through. I don’t really know how to put into words how much I enjoyed this book. I do know how much I’m going to miss reading about this family now I’ve finished, so emotional, so heartfelt. The MacBride family, as well as their friends and neighbours, become people you care about so much its almost as if they’re a part of your own life.
The setting is so evocatively described. Living on a huge Sheep station covering a million acres? Hard to ever imagine such a vast open space at the mercy of all weathers, drought, storms, ravaging heat. Only the toughest, most resolute could make a home there, yet that is what the MacBride family did, for generations living in Meredith Downs.
A story about the deep secrets people hold close, they can never let anyone know for the sake of their own self preservation and the preservation of others. As well as the family themselves, there are some wonderful supporting characters. Pete Peachy the roo shooter, who kept the kangaroo population down as they would take precious water from the sheep, steal their food, and sad though it is, were a pest as far as the sheep stations were concerned. He is such an important character who leads quite a solitary life for reasons best known to himself and yet he is such a kind, caring person who would look out for others in his own brusque way.
There’s nothing else to say, you have to read the book. I loved the ending, I’m not usually a happily ever after kind of reader but the last few chapters, the conclusion of this epic journey was just perfect, and yes, moved me to tears.
Of all the books I’ve read and all the books I’ll ever read, this one will never be a forgetment. (If you’ve read it, you’ll know 😉)
The setting is so evocatively described. Living on a huge Sheep station covering a million acres? Hard to ever imagine such a vast open space at the mercy of all weathers, drought, storms, ravaging heat. Only the toughest, most resolute could make a home there, yet that is what the MacBride family did, for generations living in Meredith Downs.
A story about the deep secrets people hold close, they can never let anyone know for the sake of their own self preservation and the preservation of others. As well as the family themselves, there are some wonderful supporting characters. Pete Peachy the roo shooter, who kept the kangaroo population down as they would take precious water from the sheep, steal their food, and sad though it is, were a pest as far as the sheep stations were concerned. He is such an important character who leads quite a solitary life for reasons best known to himself and yet he is such a kind, caring person who would look out for others in his own brusque way.
There’s nothing else to say, you have to read the book. I loved the ending, I’m not usually a happily ever after kind of reader but the last few chapters, the conclusion of this epic journey was just perfect, and yes, moved me to tears.
Of all the books I’ve read and all the books I’ll ever read, this one will never be a forgetment. (If you’ve read it, you’ll know 😉)
November 21, 2025
It's been 6 years since I read Stedman's first book, "The Light Between Oceans", which I absolutely loved. This one was well worth the wait. The MacBrides have been in the sheep business for generations and call Meredith Downs, a vast landscape of sprawling fields, home (and a character all its own in this book). When tragedy strikes this family of 5 and turns it into a family of 3, it starts a chain of events that will change this family forever. The story is a slow-burn, where you sift through a large cast of characters and figure out the importance of each one. At times it can be tedious, but it is worth it. Secrets abound in this story, and some of them are pretty dark & shameful, but Stedman handles them in a gentle way that you won't be as disturbed by them. The biggest secret is what shapes the entire story, and you muddle along and see how this secret affects them all. This is a story of how one moment of misjudgment leaves you with a burden that you will carry with you for the rest of your life, and you need to decide what should be brought to the surface and what should remain buried. I will be thinking about this book for a while. I think that this will be one of 2026's best books.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Scribner for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Scribner for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
October 21, 2025
This book!
A real epic novel. Set across multiple generations in a place where resilience and resourcefulness are day to day necessities for survival.
Beautifully written and thoroughly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review.
A real epic novel. Set across multiple generations in a place where resilience and resourcefulness are day to day necessities for survival.
Beautifully written and thoroughly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy to review.
September 11, 2025
A Far-flung Life absolutely floored me. From the very first chapter, when a single accident tears the MacBride family apart, I was hooked, and heartbroken. M. L. Stedman has a way of writing that makes you feel the weight of every choice her characters make, as if you’re living their lives right alongside them.
The setting is extraordinary: the vast emptiness of Western Australia in the 1950s. You can almost feel the dust, the heat, the silence. It’s so remote and harsh, yet The author fills it with a community of people whose struggles, secrets, and sacrifices feel so deeply human. That contrast, between the unforgiving land and the tenderness of the characters, makes the story unforgettable.
What really stayed with me was how the novel explores resilience. It’s about the lengths we’ll go to for the people we love, even when it means carrying unbearable burdens ourselves. Some parts were heartbreaking (I’ll admit I cried), but there’s also so much beauty and hope woven through the sadness.
If you loved The Light Between Oceans, you’ll find the same luminous writing here, but this story feels even bigger, bolder, and more haunting. It’s one of those rare novels that I know will stay with me for years.
In short: moving, atmospheric, and utterly unforgettable. I can’t recommend it enough.
The setting is extraordinary: the vast emptiness of Western Australia in the 1950s. You can almost feel the dust, the heat, the silence. It’s so remote and harsh, yet The author fills it with a community of people whose struggles, secrets, and sacrifices feel so deeply human. That contrast, between the unforgiving land and the tenderness of the characters, makes the story unforgettable.
What really stayed with me was how the novel explores resilience. It’s about the lengths we’ll go to for the people we love, even when it means carrying unbearable burdens ourselves. Some parts were heartbreaking (I’ll admit I cried), but there’s also so much beauty and hope woven through the sadness.
If you loved The Light Between Oceans, you’ll find the same luminous writing here, but this story feels even bigger, bolder, and more haunting. It’s one of those rare novels that I know will stay with me for years.
In short: moving, atmospheric, and utterly unforgettable. I can’t recommend it enough.
November 29, 2025
It’s been more than 13 years since M.L. Stedman’s last book and the wait has absolutely been worth it. A Far Flung Life did not disappoint. It is sweeping and emotionally loaded and the exploits of the MacBride family, Lorna, Matt and Andy, will stay with me for a long time.
The atmospheric story spans decades and is set on a sheep station in Western Australia. Like her last book, Stedman touches on ethics and morals, and the impossible choices life sometimes hands you making one wonder how you would handle similar situations.
Some very difficult topics are explored, but I feel like care was taken so as to be thought provoking. The descriptions of the station are so vivid that the land becomes a character in its own right. Stedman perfectly captures the perils of living in a far flung community where people gossip, spy on others, and form opinions based on circumstantial evidence. These opinions can have drastic consequences, especially for the era in which the main part of the plot takes place.
This story made me angry, it made me sad, it made me cry, and it made me think. Yes, I’m being vague on the plot because I don’t want to spoil it and the reading experience. But trust me, you will find yourself rooting fiercely for some characters, furious at others, and heartbroken for more than one. If you love epic family dramas this one is for you. It publishes in March 2026.
Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of 2026.
The atmospheric story spans decades and is set on a sheep station in Western Australia. Like her last book, Stedman touches on ethics and morals, and the impossible choices life sometimes hands you making one wonder how you would handle similar situations.
Some very difficult topics are explored, but I feel like care was taken so as to be thought provoking. The descriptions of the station are so vivid that the land becomes a character in its own right. Stedman perfectly captures the perils of living in a far flung community where people gossip, spy on others, and form opinions based on circumstantial evidence. These opinions can have drastic consequences, especially for the era in which the main part of the plot takes place.
This story made me angry, it made me sad, it made me cry, and it made me think. Yes, I’m being vague on the plot because I don’t want to spoil it and the reading experience. But trust me, you will find yourself rooting fiercely for some characters, furious at others, and heartbroken for more than one. If you love epic family dramas this one is for you. It publishes in March 2026.
Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC of one of my most anticipated reads of 2026.
Want to read
October 24, 2025i have been waiting for a new M. L. Steadman for YEARS! put it in my veins!
November 15, 2025
This book completely swept me away, I was hooked from the very first chapter. It is a beautifully crafted, deeply ATMOSPHERIC novel.💕
This book has that rare, immersive quality. The author draws you in with vivid landscapes, finely observed human connections and a quiet tension that builds almost imperceptibly until you find yourself completely immersed. It feels less like reading a novel and more like being gently carried through someone else’s world!
The characters: wonderfully human… 💔 they feel COMPLEX, messy in the right ways, tender in the unexpected ones, and crafted with such care that you can’t help rooting for them even when they break your heart!! 🥺
If there’s a flaw, it is that the pacing eases up noticeably in the last third. Not unbearably so, just enough that I found myself wishing the momentum had held steady. Still, the book gathers itself for a striking and satisfying final part that fully rewards your patience and brought tears to my eyes.
Ultimately, the MacBride’s story was HARROWING, complicated and touching 😩 It’s one of those stories that LINGERS in the mind…
This is an elegantly written novel, emotionally resonant, quietly powerful, and well worth the read!!
This book has that rare, immersive quality. The author draws you in with vivid landscapes, finely observed human connections and a quiet tension that builds almost imperceptibly until you find yourself completely immersed. It feels less like reading a novel and more like being gently carried through someone else’s world!
The characters: wonderfully human… 💔 they feel COMPLEX, messy in the right ways, tender in the unexpected ones, and crafted with such care that you can’t help rooting for them even when they break your heart!! 🥺
If there’s a flaw, it is that the pacing eases up noticeably in the last third. Not unbearably so, just enough that I found myself wishing the momentum had held steady. Still, the book gathers itself for a striking and satisfying final part that fully rewards your patience and brought tears to my eyes.
Ultimately, the MacBride’s story was HARROWING, complicated and touching 😩 It’s one of those stories that LINGERS in the mind…
This is an elegantly written novel, emotionally resonant, quietly powerful, and well worth the read!!
August 13, 2025
I was lucky enough to get an ARC at the book party and after loving The Light Between Oceans I had to get this.
I wanted to fall in love with it so much, but I didnt......
I enjoyed it at first and then during the middle it went slow and not alot happened. it took me a while to want to pick it back up and took me longer than usual to read.
I enjoyed the ending of the book and the beginning but the middle just fell flat for me and I know its not a happy ever after story but some of the characters stories made me really sad. Loved Andy and my heart really hurt for Matt.
It seemed really focused on his head injury and then all of a sudden that just disappeared as the story went on.....
the characters touched my heart but I didnt fall in love with the book :(
I wanted to fall in love with it so much, but I didnt......
I enjoyed it at first and then during the middle it went slow and not alot happened. it took me a while to want to pick it back up and took me longer than usual to read.
I enjoyed the ending of the book and the beginning but the middle just fell flat for me and I know its not a happy ever after story but some of the characters stories made me really sad. Loved Andy and my heart really hurt for Matt.
It seemed really focused on his head injury and then all of a sudden that just disappeared as the story went on.....
the characters touched my heart but I didnt fall in love with the book :(
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the story of an outback Western Australia family in the late 1950s we meet the family who run a remote sheep farm on thousands of acres of Australian scrub and desert. The story starts when there is a family disaster and follows the family as they come to grips with their new reality .
The first chapter really grabbed my attention it is fast paced and witty and you are quickly thrown into the story
The book really gives you the feeling of being on a remote outback farming Australia incredibly atmospheric you can almost feel the heat and hear the flies.
The author very skilfully develops his characters so that you really feel you know them by the end of the book there love and regrets are followed through throughout a long time period in their life
There are some difficult subjects covered in the book, but although these may focus the characters emotions they do not completely over shadow the story. This novel is by no means a misery memoir it’s ultimately optimistic and full of love.
I love the authors writing style. It’s a very relaxing immersive read.
I have read the author’s previous novel The light between oceans a few few years ago before I started writing reviews and enjoyed it very much one of those novels that stays in your memory. This book also I think will stay with me for quite some time.
I would recommend this novel for those who love a primarily character based novel with plenty of emotion and a great exotic setting both in time and place.
I read the book on NetGalley UK and return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK on the 5th of March 2026 by random house UK Transworld publishers double day
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com
After publication, it will also appear on Amazon Sun UK and Waterstones
The first chapter really grabbed my attention it is fast paced and witty and you are quickly thrown into the story
The book really gives you the feeling of being on a remote outback farming Australia incredibly atmospheric you can almost feel the heat and hear the flies.
The author very skilfully develops his characters so that you really feel you know them by the end of the book there love and regrets are followed through throughout a long time period in their life
There are some difficult subjects covered in the book, but although these may focus the characters emotions they do not completely over shadow the story. This novel is by no means a misery memoir it’s ultimately optimistic and full of love.
I love the authors writing style. It’s a very relaxing immersive read.
I have read the author’s previous novel The light between oceans a few few years ago before I started writing reviews and enjoyed it very much one of those novels that stays in your memory. This book also I think will stay with me for quite some time.
I would recommend this novel for those who love a primarily character based novel with plenty of emotion and a great exotic setting both in time and place.
I read the book on NetGalley UK and return for an honest review. The book is published in the UK on the 5th of March 2026 by random house UK Transworld publishers double day
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, StoryGraph, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com
After publication, it will also appear on Amazon Sun UK and Waterstones
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
(2.5 stars) This book delivered on its promise to immerse me in a time and place that I was new to – Western Australia in the late 1950s and 1960s. The MacBride family manages a million-acre sheep farm in remote Australia, a land that takes days to drive around, whose sheep live or die by the rainfall it gets, and is over-run by roos (they even have a roo-shooter on staff). I was drawn in by the descriptions of daily life on the huge farm and the colorful characters that inhabited it.
The book starts off with a bang – a tragedy that sends the MacBride family reeling. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. But then, something happens that ruined the book for me. It’s something that the entire book keys on and I just couldn’t buy it. There are, in fact, two or three more occurrences that came across to me as implausible. It all just seemed a bit lazy on the part of the author to rely on unlikely event after unlikely event.
So, while I loved the way this book was written and I loved the descriptions of the land and its inhabitants, I ultimately found the plot too far-fetched. Maybe the title for the book should have been A Far-Fetched Life… But don’t rely on my opinion. Almost everyone else who has read this book as of this post (126 reviewers) loves it. And, come to think of it, I found the author’s previous book also depended on an unlikely event – a baby washing up on the shore of a lighthouse and found by a woman who had been unsuccessful at concieving children. Most others were able to suspend their disbelief for that book too. I gave it 3 stars for the writing. This one gets 2.5.
Much thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for allowing me access to this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book hits the shelves on March 3, 2026.
The book starts off with a bang – a tragedy that sends the MacBride family reeling. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. But then, something happens that ruined the book for me. It’s something that the entire book keys on and I just couldn’t buy it. There are, in fact, two or three more occurrences that came across to me as implausible. It all just seemed a bit lazy on the part of the author to rely on unlikely event after unlikely event.
So, while I loved the way this book was written and I loved the descriptions of the land and its inhabitants, I ultimately found the plot too far-fetched. Maybe the title for the book should have been A Far-Fetched Life… But don’t rely on my opinion. Almost everyone else who has read this book as of this post (126 reviewers) loves it. And, come to think of it, I found the author’s previous book also depended on an unlikely event – a baby washing up on the shore of a lighthouse and found by a woman who had been unsuccessful at concieving children. Most others were able to suspend their disbelief for that book too. I gave it 3 stars for the writing. This one gets 2.5.
Much thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for allowing me access to this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. This book hits the shelves on March 3, 2026.
October 14, 2025
Running a sheep station in the middle of the Australian outback in the 1950s isn’t exactly an easy life, but for the MacBride family, it’s all they’ve ever known. When Phil MacBride and his two sons, Warren and Matt, crash their truck out on their property, the tragedy sends shockwaves through the family that stretch across generations.
Stedman’s writing is absolutely stunning - you can feel the sun beating down on your neck, smell the kicked-up dust from the utes, and see the dry expanse of the land spreading endlessly in every direction. The atmosphere is there in full force, and that’s what kept me turning the pages.
But as beautiful as the writing was, I struggled to stay engaged. The story just didn’t pull me in until about three-quarters of the way through, and by then, I was mostly curious to see how it would all end. The pacing felt slow, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters early on. I kept wishing we’d been given more of their backstories sooner, especially the side characters who ended up shining brightest toward the end.
By the last section, I finally felt invested - but it took a long time to get there. I think readers who love slow, quiet family sagas will find something here to appreciate, especially those who enjoy beautifully written, atmospheric stories about legacy and loss.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Edition in exchange for my honest review.
Stedman’s writing is absolutely stunning - you can feel the sun beating down on your neck, smell the kicked-up dust from the utes, and see the dry expanse of the land spreading endlessly in every direction. The atmosphere is there in full force, and that’s what kept me turning the pages.
But as beautiful as the writing was, I struggled to stay engaged. The story just didn’t pull me in until about three-quarters of the way through, and by then, I was mostly curious to see how it would all end. The pacing felt slow, and I had a hard time connecting with the characters early on. I kept wishing we’d been given more of their backstories sooner, especially the side characters who ended up shining brightest toward the end.
By the last section, I finally felt invested - but it took a long time to get there. I think readers who love slow, quiet family sagas will find something here to appreciate, especially those who enjoy beautifully written, atmospheric stories about legacy and loss.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Edition in exchange for my honest review.
September 4, 2025
In A Far-flung Life, M. L. Stedman returns with a sweeping, emotionally resonant novel that captures the fragility of family and the quiet heroism of survival. Set against the vast and unforgiving beauty of Western Australia in 1958, the story begins with a single moment of distraction—a truck on a lonely road, a shattered family, and a ripple of consequences that echo across generations.
Stedman’s prose is luminous, textured with wit and tenderness, and her characters are drawn with aching precision. The MacBride family, caught in the crosshairs of fate, becomes a lens through which we explore sacrifice, secrecy, and the fierce instinct to protect what we love. The landscape itself feels alive—both a sanctuary and a silent witness to the tragedies that unfold.
This is not just a tale of heartbreak; it’s a celebration of resilience. Stedman deftly explores the emotional architecture of a community shaped by isolation and bound by unspoken truths. With the same depth and grace that made The Light Between Oceans unforgettable, A Far-flung Life invites readers to sit with sorrow, embrace hope, and reflect on the quiet power of redemption.
A masterful work that lingers like heat on the horizon.
With thanks to M L Steadman., the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Stedman’s prose is luminous, textured with wit and tenderness, and her characters are drawn with aching precision. The MacBride family, caught in the crosshairs of fate, becomes a lens through which we explore sacrifice, secrecy, and the fierce instinct to protect what we love. The landscape itself feels alive—both a sanctuary and a silent witness to the tragedies that unfold.
This is not just a tale of heartbreak; it’s a celebration of resilience. Stedman deftly explores the emotional architecture of a community shaped by isolation and bound by unspoken truths. With the same depth and grace that made The Light Between Oceans unforgettable, A Far-flung Life invites readers to sit with sorrow, embrace hope, and reflect on the quiet power of redemption.
A masterful work that lingers like heat on the horizon.
With thanks to M L Steadman., the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
October 9, 2025
This is one of those novels that I romped through (apart from the middle, which sagged a bit for me) and then spent several days pondering the story.
Set in the Australian outback, mostly in the 1950s and 60s, this is a family saga which starts with a terrible tragedy and then more trauma is piled on top. Sounds depressing, but it wasn't. The author writes well and it's an easy read, with short chapters from different perspectives - family and the few characters around them. It's about family secrets, coming to terms with awfulness and how you deal with it. Everyone is coping with their own personal tragedy and the interaction between the characters is like when snooker balls are hit by a cue.
Stedman's The Light Between Oceans (a much better title than A Far-flung Life) was made into a successful film. I'm not sure that this would work so well, as some of the subjects tackled are difficult to handle on the big screen although, in the novel, they work because the reader empathises with the characters, largely because of the writer's skill.
I enjoyed this book and will recommend it. I didn't love it and, to be consistent with my ratings, I'm giving it three stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this novel.
Set in the Australian outback, mostly in the 1950s and 60s, this is a family saga which starts with a terrible tragedy and then more trauma is piled on top. Sounds depressing, but it wasn't. The author writes well and it's an easy read, with short chapters from different perspectives - family and the few characters around them. It's about family secrets, coming to terms with awfulness and how you deal with it. Everyone is coping with their own personal tragedy and the interaction between the characters is like when snooker balls are hit by a cue.
Stedman's The Light Between Oceans (a much better title than A Far-flung Life) was made into a successful film. I'm not sure that this would work so well, as some of the subjects tackled are difficult to handle on the big screen although, in the novel, they work because the reader empathises with the characters, largely because of the writer's skill.
I enjoyed this book and will recommend it. I didn't love it and, to be consistent with my ratings, I'm giving it three stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advance review copy of this novel.
August 25, 2025
I loved this book
It is an epic family saga the follows the Macbride family who live on a sheep station in Western Australia. One life changing moment not only brings grief but has a ripple effect that continues on through the years.
The characters are so well written. My heart hurt for Lorna and Rose and then also Matt and sweet innocent Andy. Also Pete Peachy, his pain and his shame, made my heart ache for him.
In fact a lot of this book gave me big feelings. I was so worried for Matt and Andy. Matt carried so much weight on his shoulders and the ending for him made me cry happy tears.
The landscape is also a character within the book. I was so scared when the mining prospectors came that they would end up destroying this beautiful wilderness for it is most definitely a wilderness and living there is not for the faint hearted.
If you love a family saga with secrets, beautifully crafted characters that you will fall in love with set in a wild landscape then this book is for you.
It is not published until next year but I can't wait to shout about it to everyone when it finally comes out.
It is an epic family saga the follows the Macbride family who live on a sheep station in Western Australia. One life changing moment not only brings grief but has a ripple effect that continues on through the years.
The characters are so well written. My heart hurt for Lorna and Rose and then also Matt and sweet innocent Andy. Also Pete Peachy, his pain and his shame, made my heart ache for him.
In fact a lot of this book gave me big feelings. I was so worried for Matt and Andy. Matt carried so much weight on his shoulders and the ending for him made me cry happy tears.
The landscape is also a character within the book. I was so scared when the mining prospectors came that they would end up destroying this beautiful wilderness for it is most definitely a wilderness and living there is not for the faint hearted.
If you love a family saga with secrets, beautifully crafted characters that you will fall in love with set in a wild landscape then this book is for you.
It is not published until next year but I can't wait to shout about it to everyone when it finally comes out.
November 24, 2025
I loved The Light between Oceans by M L Stedman so jumped at the chance to read a A Far-Flung Life when offered the opportunity to read it as an ARC. Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for offering me this opportunity in exchange for an honest review.
The book is again set in Australia, this time on a remote Western Australian sheep station. The novel tells the story of several generations of McBrides, although the focus is primarily upon the period 1957 to the 1970s. It's hard to say too much about what happens to the various family members without giving away too much of a plot. The book deals well with subjects which were in the 1950s-1970s, and are still to some extent today, taboo depending upon where you live ... homophobia, cross-dressing and incest. Whilst highly relevant to the plot they are not the focus of the story, which at its heart is a story of the daily trials and tribulations of a family beset by tragedy, and their hopes for the future. It certainly had the same feel as The Light Between Oceans, slightly sad but something you definitely wanted to keep reading. I would recommend it to friends who enjoyed TLBO.
The book is again set in Australia, this time on a remote Western Australian sheep station. The novel tells the story of several generations of McBrides, although the focus is primarily upon the period 1957 to the 1970s. It's hard to say too much about what happens to the various family members without giving away too much of a plot. The book deals well with subjects which were in the 1950s-1970s, and are still to some extent today, taboo depending upon where you live ... homophobia, cross-dressing and incest. Whilst highly relevant to the plot they are not the focus of the story, which at its heart is a story of the daily trials and tribulations of a family beset by tragedy, and their hopes for the future. It certainly had the same feel as The Light Between Oceans, slightly sad but something you definitely wanted to keep reading. I would recommend it to friends who enjoyed TLBO.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
feel like I’m gonna be put on the naughty list for this one but I’ll just it simply didn’t work for me.
There’s a plot thing that I struggle with, which happens close to the start, and then the whole book is really the vibrations of that moment and how it affects the characters.
I wanted to DNF while I was reading multiple times but I just couldn’t, I kept waiting for it to find new footing with the storyline. It was slow, which happens with HF and Literary fiction at times, but that wasn’t it. It just felt like there’s a conversation the author wanted to dig into (mental health moments after physical trauma?) but it got skimmed over (for obvious reasons).
I was very excited for this one. The debut by the author is one I loved. So to say I was disappointed, is an understatement. And part of the reason I wouldn’t let myself DNF it.
The good: the writing mechanics themselves. She can write. No Q about that. The storytelling is there, the plot (for me) was not.
Anywho, put me on the naughty list or say I’m in my Grinch era 🙈 because I struggled through it.
Ps. There’s triggers for this one that sensitive readers may want to watch out for.
There’s a plot thing that I struggle with, which happens close to the start, and then the whole book is really the vibrations of that moment and how it affects the characters.
I wanted to DNF while I was reading multiple times but I just couldn’t, I kept waiting for it to find new footing with the storyline. It was slow, which happens with HF and Literary fiction at times, but that wasn’t it. It just felt like there’s a conversation the author wanted to dig into (mental health moments after physical trauma?) but it got skimmed over (for obvious reasons).
I was very excited for this one. The debut by the author is one I loved. So to say I was disappointed, is an understatement. And part of the reason I wouldn’t let myself DNF it.
The good: the writing mechanics themselves. She can write. No Q about that. The storytelling is there, the plot (for me) was not.
Anywho, put me on the naughty list or say I’m in my Grinch era 🙈 because I struggled through it.
Ps. There’s triggers for this one that sensitive readers may want to watch out for.
September 10, 2025
In the late 1950s in Australia, the MacBride family have run a successful sheep station for generations, despite the vagaries of the weather and the challenges of the remote setting. A fatal accident changes everything, and the unintentional consequences that spiral after it will bring guilt, shame and self-loathing to the survivors in a way that seems destined to deny them any future happiness. This story unfolds like a Greek tragedy, with characters being brutally punished for things that happen by chance rather than design and which they can never escape from. The portrayal of Australia and this community through times of huge change is vivid, as this tough and unpredictable way of life becomes untenable. I particularly enjoyed some of the minor characters, such as the kangaroo catcher whose experiences as a POW in a Japanese prison camp lead him to an unconventional way of reminding himself of the possibility of beauty, and the postmistress who attends the funerals of strangers in order to cry over her own personal loss. The writing is beautiful, but overall I found the narrative so grim and depressing that I could not enjoy it as much as I would have expected and would have preferred there to be a bit more light among the darkness.
September 13, 2025
A Far Flung Life
Set in the Western Australia outback with its arid red desert landscapes where large sheep stations stretch across this tough area, hardship and drought always just around the corner with the added addition of poisonous snakes and wild animals.
Starting at the beginning of 1958 the MacBride father and two sons are returning home to their station where wife and daughter await them. A terrible accident occurs that changes everything, starting a pattern of devastating events.
We follow the remaining family’s lives over the coming years, times of brutal hardships and heartbreaking moments.
This is an evocative emotional read with some shocking scenes but although dark at times this is a sweeping story of pure resilience and strength with characters that are proud, brave and loving.
A wonderful story that would make a fabulous TV series or film, I was swept along and finished the book feeling I had just read something that was very special.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly
Set in the Western Australia outback with its arid red desert landscapes where large sheep stations stretch across this tough area, hardship and drought always just around the corner with the added addition of poisonous snakes and wild animals.
Starting at the beginning of 1958 the MacBride father and two sons are returning home to their station where wife and daughter await them. A terrible accident occurs that changes everything, starting a pattern of devastating events.
We follow the remaining family’s lives over the coming years, times of brutal hardships and heartbreaking moments.
This is an evocative emotional read with some shocking scenes but although dark at times this is a sweeping story of pure resilience and strength with characters that are proud, brave and loving.
A wonderful story that would make a fabulous TV series or film, I was swept along and finished the book feeling I had just read something that was very special.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly
October 9, 2025
It's been awhile since "The Light Between Oceans" caused me to scream at fictional characters, pleading with them not to do something that would ruin their lives! Now I have "A Far-flung Life" which is equally exasperating and just as beautifully written. The MacBride family, living in the Australian Outback, are charismatic, even when their choices as individuals aren't always in their best interests, or even under their own control. This long saga is ultimately worth the time it takes to read simply because you need to know what will happen and if there will be happiness for anyone. Stedman's words transport the reader to a place both beautiful and desolate. You will feel the heat, the thirst, see the floods and the flowers. You will cry... a lot. But you'll also smile and laugh. Someone said this book was uplifting. I'm not sure I agree with that. I'm not sure how to categorize the ultimate emotions that ran through my mind and body, but I will say that the book will stay with you for a long, long time.
November 14, 2025
Western Australia, 1958. A truck rumbles along a lonely outback road. A moment’s inattention, and in a few muddled seconds the lives of the MacBride family are shattered.
Instead of leaving them to heal, fate comes back for them in a twist of consequences that will cause one of them to lose their life, and another to sacrifice theirs for the sake of an innocent child.
Set in the expanse of a vast and flat landscape, where the weather is a capricious god and a million-acre sheep station is barely a dot on the map, A Far-flung Life explores the hearts of a handful of isolated souls and the secrets they shield in order to survive.
Beautiful, evocative writing but a desperately sad story. If only there had been a chink of light in the never-ending gloom of the family's lives I would have enjoyed this more but misery built upon misery so that despite the beautiful prose I was glad to reach the end.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
Instead of leaving them to heal, fate comes back for them in a twist of consequences that will cause one of them to lose their life, and another to sacrifice theirs for the sake of an innocent child.
Set in the expanse of a vast and flat landscape, where the weather is a capricious god and a million-acre sheep station is barely a dot on the map, A Far-flung Life explores the hearts of a handful of isolated souls and the secrets they shield in order to survive.
Beautiful, evocative writing but a desperately sad story. If only there had been a chink of light in the never-ending gloom of the family's lives I would have enjoyed this more but misery built upon misery so that despite the beautiful prose I was glad to reach the end.
My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
December 3, 2025
I have been waiting for years for M.L. Stedman to write another novel. I absolutely loved The Light Between Oceans. This year was my year, I received an early digital copy of A far-flung Life. Stedman is no stranger to the hard working, tragic family story. We meet the MacBride family who live in a remote area of Australia and raise sheep. It is a hard life but a good life until tragedy comes and visits. Now the mother and two children must continue with life with half of their family gone.
A Far-flung Life didn't resonate with me the way The Light Between Oceans did. With that being said, I did find this book interesting. The Australian outback seems like one hard place to live. I did appreciate the historical lesson that this book offers. This book is not a very happy book, if that is what you are looking for. There is definitely a sadness that is the undertone of the whole book. It is very well written and does make you think about life.
Special thanks to M.L. Stedman, Scribner, and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4 stars for me.
A Far-flung Life didn't resonate with me the way The Light Between Oceans did. With that being said, I did find this book interesting. The Australian outback seems like one hard place to live. I did appreciate the historical lesson that this book offers. This book is not a very happy book, if that is what you are looking for. There is definitely a sadness that is the undertone of the whole book. It is very well written and does make you think about life.
Special thanks to M.L. Stedman, Scribner, and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4 stars for me.
December 9, 2025
As she did in "The Light Between Oceans," M. L. Stedman sets her novel in a remote and forbidding land. For "A Far-Flung Life" she chooses Western Australia in the late 1950s. Blasting hot with brutal weather, the McBrides have called their 40,000 acre station home for decades. They're a well-respected family, successful in raising sheep and with three bright children. All of this is blown to bits in a chance moment when a kangaroo dodges in front of a truck. The resulting accident changes everything, and will result in secrets and tragedies that no one can even imagine.
I loved how Stedman lays open layer after layer with careful deliberation, something you can do with strongly developed characters readers want to know more about. This unspooling is masterful, drawing you in while building the stakes for everyone involved. This book is so good, you'll be sorry when it's over.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for a digital review copy of this novel. It's out in March 2026. Put it on your TBR list now!
I loved how Stedman lays open layer after layer with careful deliberation, something you can do with strongly developed characters readers want to know more about. This unspooling is masterful, drawing you in while building the stakes for everyone involved. This book is so good, you'll be sorry when it's over.
Many thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for a digital review copy of this novel. It's out in March 2026. Put it on your TBR list now!
September 8, 2025
I loved M.L. Stedman’s best selling novel ‘A Light Between Oceans’ and was interested to see how she would follow it up.
‘A Far Flung Life’ is completely different. Set in a remote part of Western Australia in 1958 the story starts with a fatal road accident that has heartbreaking consequences for the MacBride family.
Rosie, the MacBride daughter, blames herself and the secrets and lies reverberate down through to the next generation.
I particularly like the way the author has portrayed the characters in the community, especially Pete Peachy the roo shooter who is harboring secrets of his own.
I also liked the descriptions of the huge unforgiving landscape where these Pastoralists - never farmers - eke out a living on large sheep stations.
It took me a while to get into the story, which is in three parts, it’s quite bleak in places but well written and interesting.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House UK for an ARC
‘A Far Flung Life’ is completely different. Set in a remote part of Western Australia in 1958 the story starts with a fatal road accident that has heartbreaking consequences for the MacBride family.
Rosie, the MacBride daughter, blames herself and the secrets and lies reverberate down through to the next generation.
I particularly like the way the author has portrayed the characters in the community, especially Pete Peachy the roo shooter who is harboring secrets of his own.
I also liked the descriptions of the huge unforgiving landscape where these Pastoralists - never farmers - eke out a living on large sheep stations.
It took me a while to get into the story, which is in three parts, it’s quite bleak in places but well written and interesting.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House UK for an ARC
September 16, 2025
Thank you to Doubleday publisher and NetGalley for the prepublication digital copy of this book in return for an honest review. It has been an absolute pleasure, I honestly loved this book! It deals with some very heartbreaking life events in the MacBride family with so much skill and pathos. The novel describes some of the history of this vast area of Australia in a way that informs the reader and weaves effortlessly into the storylines. The community of characters are so well formed and each are introduced seamlessly into the existing story. I was so invested in very many of them, and actually cried at some of the tragedies (it’s really unusual for a book to affect me so deeply). The writing style is beautiful, and one of my biggest pleasures was the fact that there is a very well thought through final section, bringing many parts of the story to fruition. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to others.
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