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The Farm
When 37-year-old Leila suffers a health tragedy, she doesn't recover as quickly as she expected. Her partner, James, suggests a year away from the city - they'll stay on his family farm, where the wide, open spaces and clean country air will help her come to terms with her grief.
But the property is remote and the house oppressive. Leila is disturbed by strange noises, fleeting visions and intrusive dreams. James worries that her medication is causing hallucinations.
As Leila's isolation grows amid the haunted landscape, so does her suspicion that she isn't the first woman James has relocated to the farm. Is what she's experiencing real? Or is it all in her head?
But the property is remote and the house oppressive. Leila is disturbed by strange noises, fleeting visions and intrusive dreams. James worries that her medication is causing hallucinations.
As Leila's isolation grows amid the haunted landscape, so does her suspicion that she isn't the first woman James has relocated to the farm. Is what she's experiencing real? Or is it all in her head?
377 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
73 people are currently reading
1040 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 189 reviews
November 4, 2025
The Farm by Jessica Mansour-Nahra
★★★★★
37-year-old Leila and her partner James move to his remote family farm, hoping the countryside will aid her recovery from a health condition. But as isolation deepens, eerie visions and unsettling suspicions arise, leaving her to question whether the haunting is real or a product of her mind.
Jessica’s writing is nothing short of breathtaking, there were so many moments where I caught myself thinking “this is some of the best writing I’ve ever read”. I was completely captivated from beginning to end.
I didn’t want the story to finish because I wanted to savour every line and stay connected to Leila’s journey a little longer. Rusty, of course, stole my heart. Jessica infused him with so much warmth and personality that he leapt off the page.
What I loved most, though, was how Jessica captured the complexities of grief and the quiet struggles women face after loss, all with such tenderness and depth.
An outstanding debut, I cannot wait to see what Jessica writes next.
🐮🍷🛻🦘
Thanks to Hachette Australia and Tandem Collective for the opportunity to read this book.
Pour a hot drink, it’s book talk time.
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★★★★★
37-year-old Leila and her partner James move to his remote family farm, hoping the countryside will aid her recovery from a health condition. But as isolation deepens, eerie visions and unsettling suspicions arise, leaving her to question whether the haunting is real or a product of her mind.
Jessica’s writing is nothing short of breathtaking, there were so many moments where I caught myself thinking “this is some of the best writing I’ve ever read”. I was completely captivated from beginning to end.
I didn’t want the story to finish because I wanted to savour every line and stay connected to Leila’s journey a little longer. Rusty, of course, stole my heart. Jessica infused him with so much warmth and personality that he leapt off the page.
What I loved most, though, was how Jessica captured the complexities of grief and the quiet struggles women face after loss, all with such tenderness and depth.
An outstanding debut, I cannot wait to see what Jessica writes next.
🐮🍷🛻🦘
Thanks to Hachette Australia and Tandem Collective for the opportunity to read this book.
Pour a hot drink, it’s book talk time.
TikTok
January 6, 2026
3.5★
When James and Leila discover they are going to become parents they couldn’t be happier, but after Leila has her first scan they soon learn there is no heartbeat. After the miscarriage, Leila is not the same person she was; she struggles to get through each day. James is a psychologist and he continues to go to work each day, but he can see the changes in Leila and knows that no matter how much support he gives her, she is not getting any better.
James decides that they should go and stay at his parents' farm for a while in the hope that this might help Leila recover, but unfortunately, it doesn’t as Leila continues to heavily medicate herself to get through each day. In time Leila starts to see things which James and the doctor put down to the medication she is taking, but Leila knows what she saw. She knows things are not as they seem on the farm, but getting anyone to believe her could be difficult.
I’m a bit on the fence with this one as it was slow and by page 200 not much had really happened, but you got the sense that something was going to and that’s what kept me so intrigued and turning the pages. When the twist finally came, it wasn’t mind-blowing like I had hoped for, which for me was a bit disappointing. I did like that it was atmospheric and had an eerie vibe to it. It may not have had the ending I wanted, but it did have an important message in this book which I hope all women take note of. I do recommend looking up trigger warnings for this one as this book may not be for everyone. Overall I enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing what this author writes next. Recommended.
When James and Leila discover they are going to become parents they couldn’t be happier, but after Leila has her first scan they soon learn there is no heartbeat. After the miscarriage, Leila is not the same person she was; she struggles to get through each day. James is a psychologist and he continues to go to work each day, but he can see the changes in Leila and knows that no matter how much support he gives her, she is not getting any better.
James decides that they should go and stay at his parents' farm for a while in the hope that this might help Leila recover, but unfortunately, it doesn’t as Leila continues to heavily medicate herself to get through each day. In time Leila starts to see things which James and the doctor put down to the medication she is taking, but Leila knows what she saw. She knows things are not as they seem on the farm, but getting anyone to believe her could be difficult.
I’m a bit on the fence with this one as it was slow and by page 200 not much had really happened, but you got the sense that something was going to and that’s what kept me so intrigued and turning the pages. When the twist finally came, it wasn’t mind-blowing like I had hoped for, which for me was a bit disappointing. I did like that it was atmospheric and had an eerie vibe to it. It may not have had the ending I wanted, but it did have an important message in this book which I hope all women take note of. I do recommend looking up trigger warnings for this one as this book may not be for everyone. Overall I enjoyed this book and I look forward to seeing what this author writes next. Recommended.
August 30, 2025
Another fantastic Aussie crime debut for 2025. The Farm is a deeply unsettling and confronting story that will stay with me . It was dark and creepy and hard to put down. Not especially fast paced, this book will have you questioning everything- what is real? Is Leila hallucinating?
We follow Leila from her Coogee beach apartment to a farm in rural NSW. She has just had a miscarriage and she is feeling so broken. Her partner James thinks that some time away from the city will be good for the, and so they move to his family’s farm. It is a shock to the system for Leila, and she struggles with this new life, as well as grieving their loss.
Now this city girl and animal lover struggled with some of the farm scenes in this book. I understand that they are what happens out in the country but it was still very hard to read. It is quite brutal so if that is a problem for you, you might have the same issues that I did.
One of my favourite parts of this book was Rusty the failed farm dog and Leila’s new best friend. They melted my heart ❤️
The last 25% of so of this book felt a little rushed, especially after the rest of the book had some really drawn out storyline. I do think maybe there could have been more to this part of the book, and somethings came right out of the blue for me. I was not expecting that turn at all.
This will not be a book for everyone, it does cover some really tough issues, and will be hard for some people to read. It is suspenseful and series, it also very sad. The author has done an incredible job writing about so many really important things.
Thanks so much to Hachette Australia for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes in Australia on August 26th.
We follow Leila from her Coogee beach apartment to a farm in rural NSW. She has just had a miscarriage and she is feeling so broken. Her partner James thinks that some time away from the city will be good for the, and so they move to his family’s farm. It is a shock to the system for Leila, and she struggles with this new life, as well as grieving their loss.
Now this city girl and animal lover struggled with some of the farm scenes in this book. I understand that they are what happens out in the country but it was still very hard to read. It is quite brutal so if that is a problem for you, you might have the same issues that I did.
One of my favourite parts of this book was Rusty the failed farm dog and Leila’s new best friend. They melted my heart ❤️
The last 25% of so of this book felt a little rushed, especially after the rest of the book had some really drawn out storyline. I do think maybe there could have been more to this part of the book, and somethings came right out of the blue for me. I was not expecting that turn at all.
This will not be a book for everyone, it does cover some really tough issues, and will be hard for some people to read. It is suspenseful and series, it also very sad. The author has done an incredible job writing about so many really important things.
Thanks so much to Hachette Australia for my early copy of this book to read. Publishes in Australia on August 26th.
October 20, 2025
Leila is living in a remote farm, recovering with and a partner she’s only been with for a bit, but loves and is loved by right? Omg, this is such an claustrophobic, creepy thriller. You could feel the oppression of the house and the landscape is completely haunting..I couldn’t put this down. It also had the sweetest relationship between Rusty the dog and Leila, I so wasn’t expecting that in this thriller!!!!!!
November 12, 2025
When 37-year-old Leila suffers a health tragedy (not sure why the author didn't just say *miscarriage*) she doesn’t recover as quickly as she expected. Her partner, James, suggests a year away from the city – they’ll stay on his family farm, where the wide, open spaces and clean country air will help her come to terms with her grief.
But the property is remote and the house oppressive. Leila is disturbed by strange noises, fleeting visions and intrusive dreams. James worries that her medication is causing hallucinations.
As Leila’s isolation grows amid the haunted landscape, so does her suspicion that she isn’t the first woman James has relocated to the farm. Is what she’s experiencing real? Or is it all in her head?
At this point, when I’m reading books of certain genres and there’s a character who is a psychiatrist/psychologist/therapist, I am instantly suspicious of both the character and how the writer would depict the ethics of the profession. In The Farm‘s case, I liked that James’ profession adds an element of tension to the story: if your psychologist boyfriend is telling you that you’re not well, that certain things are good for your mental health, and that you’re hallucinating, surely he’s correct? You definitely wouldn't consider him to be lying to you.
Jessica Mansour-Nahra’s evocative writing is a real strength: it locates you squarely in the rural Australian setting, and the tension is so palpable, I felt unsettled the whole time I was reading it. It is not for everyone: if you are picking up this book, be mindful that there are CONFRONTING scenes.(I found it hard as a cow lover).
A prominent theme of the book is a woman’s body: the book is structured into parts based on phases of a menstrual cycle, and the plot examines Leila’s experience with and autonomy of her body. The book is frank about Leila’s miscarriage (just not in the synopsis apparently), the physical and emotional pain that lingers afterwards, and the ways Leila copes with that pain. Her partner, James, appears loving, but his eagerness to try again for another pregnancy is tinged with an overlooking of Leila’s wishes and needs.
The issue I had with this book, and I feel it has been noted by quite a few people, is THE PACING. It's very slow-burn, bordering on mundane and BORING until the last 10% where it quickly throws everything at you all of a sudden and wraps up with you feeling confused and kinda let down. For the longest time I wasn't sure which direction the book was heading- there's some suspense, and psychological games going on in the beginning between the MC and her psychologist boyfriend, Then we get introduced to some supernatural elements and hauntings which are soon forgotten, and lastly we have cult symbols and religious sacrifices that come out of nowhere without an explanation. It makes for a very confusing read. Either could've worked really well if the author was willing to commit to just the ONE option, and fully embrace it.
Unfortunately, it was a bit of a miss for me.
But the property is remote and the house oppressive. Leila is disturbed by strange noises, fleeting visions and intrusive dreams. James worries that her medication is causing hallucinations.
As Leila’s isolation grows amid the haunted landscape, so does her suspicion that she isn’t the first woman James has relocated to the farm. Is what she’s experiencing real? Or is it all in her head?
At this point, when I’m reading books of certain genres and there’s a character who is a psychiatrist/psychologist/therapist, I am instantly suspicious of both the character and how the writer would depict the ethics of the profession. In The Farm‘s case, I liked that James’ profession adds an element of tension to the story: if your psychologist boyfriend is telling you that you’re not well, that certain things are good for your mental health, and that you’re hallucinating, surely he’s correct? You definitely wouldn't consider him to be lying to you.
Jessica Mansour-Nahra’s evocative writing is a real strength: it locates you squarely in the rural Australian setting, and the tension is so palpable, I felt unsettled the whole time I was reading it. It is not for everyone: if you are picking up this book, be mindful that there are CONFRONTING scenes.(I found it hard as a cow lover).
A prominent theme of the book is a woman’s body: the book is structured into parts based on phases of a menstrual cycle, and the plot examines Leila’s experience with and autonomy of her body. The book is frank about Leila’s miscarriage (just not in the synopsis apparently), the physical and emotional pain that lingers afterwards, and the ways Leila copes with that pain. Her partner, James, appears loving, but his eagerness to try again for another pregnancy is tinged with an overlooking of Leila’s wishes and needs.
The issue I had with this book, and I feel it has been noted by quite a few people, is THE PACING. It's very slow-burn, bordering on mundane and BORING until the last 10% where it quickly throws everything at you all of a sudden and wraps up with you feeling confused and kinda let down. For the longest time I wasn't sure which direction the book was heading- there's some suspense, and psychological games going on in the beginning between the MC and her psychologist boyfriend, Then we get introduced to some supernatural elements and hauntings which are soon forgotten, and lastly we have cult symbols and religious sacrifices that come out of nowhere without an explanation. It makes for a very confusing read. Either could've worked really well if the author was willing to commit to just the ONE option, and fully embrace it.
Unfortunately, it was a bit of a miss for me.
June 10, 2025
4/5 stars
A haunting debut that nails the vast and often empty nature of the Australian outback, threaded through with compelling discussions on domestic violence, race, and womanhood. Leila, an Arab-Australian woman, suffers a miscarriage and falls into a deep depression, so her white Aussie partner James moves them to his family’s outback farm for a year of healing and rest. And a whole lot more.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Farm. The writing was lovely and drew me in immediately, with lyrical prose that never veers too far into flowery. It’s so interesting and different to see gothic vibes paired with the Australian outback, something I never even considered but worked so well in this book. It reminded me so much of my trips to Echuca when I was younger, but added such a filmy, creepy quality over the top. The atmosphere was amazing.
While the centre of the novel definitely slows down in pace and eeriness, I think the discussions of race and womanhood were really poignant here. Leila has Lebanese heritage through her mother, and goes through what a lot of women of colour do (or fear to) when marrying into a white family: colourism and the crazed expectations of the in-laws. Pregnancy and it’s repurcussions is a big theme through this story, and boy is it tough. What Leila goes through is simply horrific and I feel so strongly for her.
I would’ve liked more creepy moments, as they’re written so well, to really enhance the middle of the book keep the feeling of dread going all throughout the story.
Overall a really interesting novel and I’m very excited to see what else Jessica Mansour-Nahra writes. The Farm was a gripping read with some real messed up moments that are singularly Australian, and I hope to see more of it!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
A haunting debut that nails the vast and often empty nature of the Australian outback, threaded through with compelling discussions on domestic violence, race, and womanhood. Leila, an Arab-Australian woman, suffers a miscarriage and falls into a deep depression, so her white Aussie partner James moves them to his family’s outback farm for a year of healing and rest. And a whole lot more.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Farm. The writing was lovely and drew me in immediately, with lyrical prose that never veers too far into flowery. It’s so interesting and different to see gothic vibes paired with the Australian outback, something I never even considered but worked so well in this book. It reminded me so much of my trips to Echuca when I was younger, but added such a filmy, creepy quality over the top. The atmosphere was amazing.
While the centre of the novel definitely slows down in pace and eeriness, I think the discussions of race and womanhood were really poignant here. Leila has Lebanese heritage through her mother, and goes through what a lot of women of colour do (or fear to) when marrying into a white family: colourism and the crazed expectations of the in-laws. Pregnancy and it’s repurcussions is a big theme through this story, and boy is it tough. What Leila goes through is simply horrific and I feel so strongly for her.
I would’ve liked more creepy moments, as they’re written so well, to really enhance the middle of the book keep the feeling of dread going all throughout the story.
Overall a really interesting novel and I’m very excited to see what else Jessica Mansour-Nahra writes. The Farm was a gripping read with some real messed up moments that are singularly Australian, and I hope to see more of it!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
September 11, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the landscape and setting perfect for a gothic thriller and Jessica Mansour-Nahra did an amazing job painting the surroundings and the vibe of the book, which was haunting and eerie at times while also painting a perfect picture of rural Australian living. I also loved the ongoing theme of a woman’s body and their autonomy, it was really powerful.
I found myself invested to begin with but as time went along I still had absolutely no clue what was happening, which is fine to me usually but nothing seemed to be coming together at all?!? Usually I can make at least an incorrect guess at what is happening. I think the pacing was slower than I’d like which although added to the overall eeriness, left things not connecting as well.
The end also felt rushed, and there were so many pieces I was left unsure about, with some of the FMCs experiences veering more towards supernatural.
I am sure many people will love this book, so although it wasn’t for me I’d definitely recommend picking it up to see for yourself!
Thank you to Tandem Collective and Hachette for allowing me to join the read along and providing me with a copy to read.
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the landscape and setting perfect for a gothic thriller and Jessica Mansour-Nahra did an amazing job painting the surroundings and the vibe of the book, which was haunting and eerie at times while also painting a perfect picture of rural Australian living. I also loved the ongoing theme of a woman’s body and their autonomy, it was really powerful.
I found myself invested to begin with but as time went along I still had absolutely no clue what was happening, which is fine to me usually but nothing seemed to be coming together at all?!? Usually I can make at least an incorrect guess at what is happening. I think the pacing was slower than I’d like which although added to the overall eeriness, left things not connecting as well.
The end also felt rushed, and there were so many pieces I was left unsure about, with some of the FMCs experiences veering more towards supernatural.
I am sure many people will love this book, so although it wasn’t for me I’d definitely recommend picking it up to see for yourself!
Thank you to Tandem Collective and Hachette for allowing me to join the read along and providing me with a copy to read.
September 6, 2025
The highlight of this book is, without a doubt, Rusty. The author is obviously a dog lover - and so am I, so his presence felt like a much-needed beam of light in this otherwise dark and eerie tale.
While I generally enjoy gothic thrillers and tend to steer clear of domestic noir, this novel treads the line between the two with the farm (or home) setting and a flawed & grieving female protagonist. The suspense was mostly built through the fragile psychological condition of the protagonist as she is recovering from a miscarriage with a horrible childhood looming over her past.
There is a slight tension running through the novel from the start until the last 25% of the book when it builds up very quickly before crashing to a sudden and almost jarring conclusion. It was over in a quick minute (for me as a reader anyway) that I wasn't quite sure where it all came from.
And then there’s the epilogue… which had me groaning, whyyyyy?
Thanks to publisher & Tandem for gifting me a copy of this book.
While I generally enjoy gothic thrillers and tend to steer clear of domestic noir, this novel treads the line between the two with the farm (or home) setting and a flawed & grieving female protagonist. The suspense was mostly built through the fragile psychological condition of the protagonist as she is recovering from a miscarriage with a horrible childhood looming over her past.
There is a slight tension running through the novel from the start until the last 25% of the book when it builds up very quickly before crashing to a sudden and almost jarring conclusion. It was over in a quick minute (for me as a reader anyway) that I wasn't quite sure where it all came from.
And then there’s the epilogue… which had me groaning, whyyyyy?
Thanks to publisher & Tandem for gifting me a copy of this book.
September 18, 2025
An eerie debut with shades of thriller and lots of melodrama.
The Farm is a dark domestic suspense and asks the ‘is it or isn’t it real’ question.
After a miscarriage, Leila and her partner James, relocate for a year to his family’s secluded property in the country for relaxation and recovery.
It’s isolated and depressing and Leila finds it hard to unwind.
Reliant on medication she starts hearing strange sounds, seeing things and having horrible nightmares.
As it gets worse, Leila wonders if it her imagination or something much more threatening……..
This book will not be for everyone as it does explore some hard issues and could possibly be a trigger for some.
Jessica has handled these with compassion, respect and honesty.
It’s a steady paced read and what this story does really well is create atmosphere and ambience.
Creepy, alarming, gloomy, scary, just to name a few and these are so important to the narrative.
There’s quite a bit that’s great for discussion and shape a conversation.
I look forward to reading what Jessica brings her audience next.
The Farm is a dark domestic suspense and asks the ‘is it or isn’t it real’ question.
After a miscarriage, Leila and her partner James, relocate for a year to his family’s secluded property in the country for relaxation and recovery.
It’s isolated and depressing and Leila finds it hard to unwind.
Reliant on medication she starts hearing strange sounds, seeing things and having horrible nightmares.
As it gets worse, Leila wonders if it her imagination or something much more threatening……..
This book will not be for everyone as it does explore some hard issues and could possibly be a trigger for some.
Jessica has handled these with compassion, respect and honesty.
It’s a steady paced read and what this story does really well is create atmosphere and ambience.
Creepy, alarming, gloomy, scary, just to name a few and these are so important to the narrative.
There’s quite a bit that’s great for discussion and shape a conversation.
I look forward to reading what Jessica brings her audience next.
November 10, 2025
A bit Australian Noir, a lot Gothic, with a pinch of Handmaid’s Tale thrown in for good measure. Leila (with unresolved mother issues) is at her partner, James’s family farm, isolated and run down - they’re there for a year while Leila recovers from miscarriage and gynae surgery - a bit of a reset away from the city. But increasingly Leila hears and sees things - is the house haunted? It’s been in the family for generations, handed down from father to son, so there may be stories to be told. Or is it all in Leila’s head, a side effect of the ongoing trauma from her surgery and reliance on strong painkillers? Gradually this story evolves to its shocking, but inevitable conclusion, as the reader tries to guess who’s the reliable narrator. Top points to Rusty though, what a champ.
September 9, 2025
When Leila suffers a health tragedy, she agrees to go and live with her partner, James, on his parents farm. They kindly give up the farm for them to stay. It promises her the chance to recover and start some writing she has been wanting to get to. James can commute to his job in the city, whilst also caring for the farm. But the property is more remote than Leila expected and she starts hearing and seeing strange things. Maybe it is her medication but Leila doubts it.
I found this one so hard to put down! The writing was fantastic, including some familiar local places, along with the the eerie and at times creepy setting. I loved the strong, independent character the author created and her sidekick, Rusty🐶🐾 There were also a bunch of unlikeable characters, which always adds to the entertainment. I found it hard to believe this one was a debut and I look forward to more by this author. 4.5✨
Thank you to Hachette Australia, Tandem Collective and the author for this gifted review copy.
I found this one so hard to put down! The writing was fantastic, including some familiar local places, along with the the eerie and at times creepy setting. I loved the strong, independent character the author created and her sidekick, Rusty🐶🐾 There were also a bunch of unlikeable characters, which always adds to the entertainment. I found it hard to believe this one was a debut and I look forward to more by this author. 4.5✨
Thank you to Hachette Australia, Tandem Collective and the author for this gifted review copy.
July 14, 2025
With hints of Jane Eyre, The Collector and The Yellow Wallpaper, and a mention of the original gothic novel, The Castle of Otranto, The Farm blends Aussie Noir, thriller and gothic elements together in a way I never thought possible.
After a miscarriage, Leila and her partner James retreat to his family homestead for a year to recover and mentally heal. What Leila starts to understand is there is a family history at this isolated house. There are motifs everywhere - on vases, jewellery, wallpaper etc - people around town mention things in passing or become visibly uncomfortable when Leila mentions where she’s living. It isn’t until Patricia, James’s mother, arrives to “help out” that Leila starts to understand the comments and the overall bad feeling she has, especially of the attic. There isn’t any in-your-face horror, but an increasing anxiety of “is everything in her head or did she actually see/hear that?!”.
The ending felt a little rushed, but was also very gratifying.
Rusty is a little legend 🐕
Congrats on a fantastic debut novel! Can’t wait to see what you do next.
** Thank you Better Reading & Hachette for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
After a miscarriage, Leila and her partner James retreat to his family homestead for a year to recover and mentally heal. What Leila starts to understand is there is a family history at this isolated house. There are motifs everywhere - on vases, jewellery, wallpaper etc - people around town mention things in passing or become visibly uncomfortable when Leila mentions where she’s living. It isn’t until Patricia, James’s mother, arrives to “help out” that Leila starts to understand the comments and the overall bad feeling she has, especially of the attic. There isn’t any in-your-face horror, but an increasing anxiety of “is everything in her head or did she actually see/hear that?!”.
The ending felt a little rushed, but was also very gratifying.
Rusty is a little legend 🐕
Congrats on a fantastic debut novel! Can’t wait to see what you do next.
** Thank you Better Reading & Hachette for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 4, 2025
4.25 stars
ARC review
This book features heavy content centred around pregnancy loss and domestic violence. Take care of yourself when deciding if this book is for you. 🫂
The Farm is an unsettling domestic thriller set in the Australian outback. Leila and James are living in the city when Leila loses her pregnancy of their first child. The couple decide to move to James’ family farm for a year to help Leila heal mentally and physically, as well as giving her an opportunity to write the book she’s always talked about. The charm of open spaces is quickly negated by strange noises and that feeling that someone unseen is watching you. Is Leila losing her mind or is she in serious danger?
This is one of the best Australian debuts I’ve read to date! Jessica Mansour-Nahra nails the feeling of isolation that Leila experiences: both physically and emotionally. Her scene-setting gave me chills and I could feel the helplessness through the page. Leila’s journey in The Farm is one that is sadly familiar to millions of women, and I totally empathised with Leila’s confusion and how she doubts herself. This is a thriller that will stick with you for a long time because it feels so real. I was questioning who I could trust and found myself on the edge of my seat multiple times. The pacing was another strong point - I could have easily read this in a day if time permitted.
I need to share my appreciation for the author because pregnancy loss is a tough topic to tackle and she does it with such grace and care. Leila’s loss could have easily been pushed aside once it completed the task of giving James a chance to isolate her, but her grief haunts the narrative and shows the reality of many people who struggle to return to normalcy after losing a pregnancy. This book really had me feeling everything and I highly recommend it!
Bonus: you get that juicy thriller ending that leaves you 🤯
ARC review
This book features heavy content centred around pregnancy loss and domestic violence. Take care of yourself when deciding if this book is for you. 🫂
The Farm is an unsettling domestic thriller set in the Australian outback. Leila and James are living in the city when Leila loses her pregnancy of their first child. The couple decide to move to James’ family farm for a year to help Leila heal mentally and physically, as well as giving her an opportunity to write the book she’s always talked about. The charm of open spaces is quickly negated by strange noises and that feeling that someone unseen is watching you. Is Leila losing her mind or is she in serious danger?
This is one of the best Australian debuts I’ve read to date! Jessica Mansour-Nahra nails the feeling of isolation that Leila experiences: both physically and emotionally. Her scene-setting gave me chills and I could feel the helplessness through the page. Leila’s journey in The Farm is one that is sadly familiar to millions of women, and I totally empathised with Leila’s confusion and how she doubts herself. This is a thriller that will stick with you for a long time because it feels so real. I was questioning who I could trust and found myself on the edge of my seat multiple times. The pacing was another strong point - I could have easily read this in a day if time permitted.
I need to share my appreciation for the author because pregnancy loss is a tough topic to tackle and she does it with such grace and care. Leila’s loss could have easily been pushed aside once it completed the task of giving James a chance to isolate her, but her grief haunts the narrative and shows the reality of many people who struggle to return to normalcy after losing a pregnancy. This book really had me feeling everything and I highly recommend it!
Bonus: you get that juicy thriller ending that leaves you 🤯
January 3, 2026
The Farm is a valuable contribution to both Australian fiction and horror in general.
The slowly built tension allowed a lot of time for trying to piece together the mystery. I had a hard time putting it down.
Isolation was a strong theme of the novel, and one of the more impactful ones for me.
The subtle way that James's misogyny was revealed to Leila was deeply alarming, and simultaneously she could not help but question her own sanity.
The Farm deserves recognition for bringing the disturbing topics of bodily autonomy, control, and violence against women to the foreground. These themes were handled with great care and skill.
I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it, and I feel like it will stick around to haunt me for a long time.
The slowly built tension allowed a lot of time for trying to piece together the mystery. I had a hard time putting it down.
Isolation was a strong theme of the novel, and one of the more impactful ones for me.
The subtle way that James's misogyny was revealed to Leila was deeply alarming, and simultaneously she could not help but question her own sanity.
The Farm deserves recognition for bringing the disturbing topics of bodily autonomy, control, and violence against women to the foreground. These themes were handled with great care and skill.
I haven't been able to stop thinking about this book since I finished it, and I feel like it will stick around to haunt me for a long time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 4.25/5 stars
𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔, 𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚢, 𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚛𝚊𝚠, 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚌 - gothic fiction served straight up!
𝙰 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍-𝚞𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚙𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌.
𝙹𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕 𝚊 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚋 𝚍𝚎𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝙸'𝚖 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝!
𝙰 𝚢𝚎𝚙 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚎!
(𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭)
𝙳𝚊𝚛𝚔, 𝚎𝚎𝚛𝚢, 𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚛𝚊𝚠, 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚋𝚒𝚌 - gothic fiction served straight up!
𝙰 𝚜𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚋𝚞𝚒𝚕𝚍-𝚞𝚙 𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚕𝚙𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚌.
𝙹𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚌𝚊 𝚠𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚍𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚒𝚕 𝚊 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚋 𝚍𝚎𝚋𝚞𝚝 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕 𝙸'𝚖 𝚎𝚡𝚌𝚒𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚝!
𝙰 𝚢𝚎𝚙 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚖𝚎!
(𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄: 𝐈 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 ’𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞’ 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐬 𝐀𝐋𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭)
January 30, 2026
Started strong with great gothic vibes, but it reads very cinematic — which left me unsure what I was meant to focus on. The last 100 pages felt oddly detached from the rest.
Purely a vibe rating in the end.
Purely a vibe rating in the end.
September 22, 2025
Gripping! A modern-day take on 'Wake in Fright'.
October 25, 2025
Something about this book just really worked for me despite some “yuk” moments (hunting) and some “oh really!” Ones. The writing and setting were generally good, the handling of domestic control interesting. Not particularly fast in pass but I kept wanting to keep reading.
January 23, 2026
I liked how this book was written, and the idea was interesting. It did drag on for a while, and everything was rushed in the last few pages. I expected there to be some type of shock factor but there wasn’t at all. I still enjoyed it though.
July 20, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley & Hachette Australia for an early copy. All comments and opinions are my own.
3.25/5
Where to start with this one.... I suppose with the pre-publication hype. There were a lot of titles being thrown around willy nilly and what made me pick it up was "It's like 'Wuthering Heights' meets 'Gone Girl'" because what the fuck?
I would disregard that comparison straight away - I can definitely see the 'Wuthering Heights' vibes, instead of the gloomy moors it is set on a cold, isolated farm in rural NSW but I do think we throw around 'Gone Girl' a bit haphazardly nowadays.
We follow Leila, suffering from infertility challenges and ongoing health dramas related to surgery and trauma. Surely it's a great idea to go and heal at her husband's family farm?
I liked the aspects of using the fertility cycle as the parts of the book and connected with the main character and her troubles despite not going through anything similar myself. I do, however, live on a rural farm with cattle and could connect with the everyday dramas of farm life and understand just how hard these properties can be to maintain.
However, the last 50 pages seemed like another book tacked on entirely, and it was so rushed when the pacing thus far had been slow and steady. It needed more time to evolve at the end than we received. So while I enjoyed it, it did very much feel like a debut that's been overhyped.
3.25/5
Where to start with this one.... I suppose with the pre-publication hype. There were a lot of titles being thrown around willy nilly and what made me pick it up was "It's like 'Wuthering Heights' meets 'Gone Girl'" because what the fuck?
I would disregard that comparison straight away - I can definitely see the 'Wuthering Heights' vibes, instead of the gloomy moors it is set on a cold, isolated farm in rural NSW but I do think we throw around 'Gone Girl' a bit haphazardly nowadays.
We follow Leila, suffering from infertility challenges and ongoing health dramas related to surgery and trauma. Surely it's a great idea to go and heal at her husband's family farm?
I liked the aspects of using the fertility cycle as the parts of the book and connected with the main character and her troubles despite not going through anything similar myself. I do, however, live on a rural farm with cattle and could connect with the everyday dramas of farm life and understand just how hard these properties can be to maintain.
However, the last 50 pages seemed like another book tacked on entirely, and it was so rushed when the pacing thus far had been slow and steady. It needed more time to evolve at the end than we received. So while I enjoyed it, it did very much feel like a debut that's been overhyped.
November 4, 2025
About📖
When Leila finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she finds it difficult to be excited incase something goes wrong. So when that something occurs, Leila struggles to even move through life’s daily motions without wanting to numb herself from both her physical and emotional pain.
.
When James suggests a change of scenery for 12months and a move to the family farm to recover, Leila succumbs to the idea thinking he knows best, but when she arrives she suddenly realises how isolated she is. The house is remote, she is seeing strange faces, hearing intrusive noises and having such vivid fleeting dreams.
.
James is becoming increasingly frustrated with Leila and her antics but Leila too is finding herself more suspicious as the days pass that there is more going on here. Why did James really bring her here? Is what her gut is telling her real or is it all in her head? Or is it all too late..
My thoughts 💭
I read this from start to finish in one day. It was easy to read and kept pace for interest sake. It definitely was psychological in nature and due to the setting felt very claustrophobic and unsettling.. it really hinted at a trapped vibe with controlling traits coming from all angles. From reviews I was expecting to be on the edge of my seat but as much as it gave me eerie and chilling at times it was a lot more mellow than predicted.
.
This had a real fertility flare or flavour to it. It referenced it in patterns from a descriptive POV, it was set out chapter wise into parts mirroring the women’s flow cycle, and the main plot danced around reproducing.. if this is a trigger for you I’d be wary before choosing to read. I did find the religious sentiment of sacrifice an odd addition.
.
I really liked the small town secluded place for the story to base off. I also liked the second guessing the characters portray. It gave a sense of entrapment but also placed such a high level of doubt. Leila was being backed into a corner not knowing who she could trust. This was masked really well by the author by confusing things further with drug addiction giving this sense of is it real or not energy.
.
I found all the roads leading to one analogy done to perfection with all open storyline’s having answers by the end of the read. There was a lot of aha moments and I liked not having questions left pending to my own thoughts. I did find the ending abrupt after such a descriptive slow burn lead up.. but at same time I liked things turned out how they did.
.
Character wise I enjoyed every layer of Leila. She was perceived on the outside as one person but she had grit and a survival mode internally that she was not given near enough credit for. To think others were manipulating her is small talk.. she had them all fooled.
.
If you like psychological twisty mind games energy.. this one’s for you!!
When Leila finds herself unexpectedly pregnant, she finds it difficult to be excited incase something goes wrong. So when that something occurs, Leila struggles to even move through life’s daily motions without wanting to numb herself from both her physical and emotional pain.
.
When James suggests a change of scenery for 12months and a move to the family farm to recover, Leila succumbs to the idea thinking he knows best, but when she arrives she suddenly realises how isolated she is. The house is remote, she is seeing strange faces, hearing intrusive noises and having such vivid fleeting dreams.
.
James is becoming increasingly frustrated with Leila and her antics but Leila too is finding herself more suspicious as the days pass that there is more going on here. Why did James really bring her here? Is what her gut is telling her real or is it all in her head? Or is it all too late..
My thoughts 💭
I read this from start to finish in one day. It was easy to read and kept pace for interest sake. It definitely was psychological in nature and due to the setting felt very claustrophobic and unsettling.. it really hinted at a trapped vibe with controlling traits coming from all angles. From reviews I was expecting to be on the edge of my seat but as much as it gave me eerie and chilling at times it was a lot more mellow than predicted.
.
This had a real fertility flare or flavour to it. It referenced it in patterns from a descriptive POV, it was set out chapter wise into parts mirroring the women’s flow cycle, and the main plot danced around reproducing.. if this is a trigger for you I’d be wary before choosing to read. I did find the religious sentiment of sacrifice an odd addition.
.
I really liked the small town secluded place for the story to base off. I also liked the second guessing the characters portray. It gave a sense of entrapment but also placed such a high level of doubt. Leila was being backed into a corner not knowing who she could trust. This was masked really well by the author by confusing things further with drug addiction giving this sense of is it real or not energy.
.
I found all the roads leading to one analogy done to perfection with all open storyline’s having answers by the end of the read. There was a lot of aha moments and I liked not having questions left pending to my own thoughts. I did find the ending abrupt after such a descriptive slow burn lead up.. but at same time I liked things turned out how they did.
.
Character wise I enjoyed every layer of Leila. She was perceived on the outside as one person but she had grit and a survival mode internally that she was not given near enough credit for. To think others were manipulating her is small talk.. she had them all fooled.
.
If you like psychological twisty mind games energy.. this one’s for you!!
October 9, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5 stars)
The Farm by Jessica Mansour is a hauntingly atmospheric psychological thriller that swept me up from the very first chapter. What started as a story about grief and healing quickly unfolded into something far darker, more complex, and deeply Australian in both tone and texture.
I read this across a few days and found myself completely absorbed — dissecting the characters, unpacking theories, and trying to piece together what was real versus what might just be Leila’s fractured perception. Jessica’s slow-burn tension and the way she drip-feeds unease through grounded, believable detail kept me hooked the whole way through.
The journey from Sydney’s eastern beaches through the Blue Mountains and out to rural New South Wales felt so vivid it was almost its own character — living, breathing, and shaping every decision, every emotion. Jessica captured the rawness, isolation and beauty of the landscape in a way that felt completely authentic.
And then there was my full jaw-drop moment — that chilling dose of country reality involving one part of the Australian coat of arms… if you know, you know.
Being a dog lover, Rusty is and always will be my favourite character here — though, let’s be honest, that’s not hard when the humans are so flawed and unlikeable. He’s a good boy through and through, with his gentle loyalty, intuitive nature, and love for walks, car trips, and rolling in things he definitely shouldn’t.
Beautifully written, unsettling, and strikingly Australian — The Farm is a story that lingers long after the final page.
The Farm by Jessica Mansour is a hauntingly atmospheric psychological thriller that swept me up from the very first chapter. What started as a story about grief and healing quickly unfolded into something far darker, more complex, and deeply Australian in both tone and texture.
I read this across a few days and found myself completely absorbed — dissecting the characters, unpacking theories, and trying to piece together what was real versus what might just be Leila’s fractured perception. Jessica’s slow-burn tension and the way she drip-feeds unease through grounded, believable detail kept me hooked the whole way through.
The journey from Sydney’s eastern beaches through the Blue Mountains and out to rural New South Wales felt so vivid it was almost its own character — living, breathing, and shaping every decision, every emotion. Jessica captured the rawness, isolation and beauty of the landscape in a way that felt completely authentic.
And then there was my full jaw-drop moment — that chilling dose of country reality involving one part of the Australian coat of arms… if you know, you know.
Being a dog lover, Rusty is and always will be my favourite character here — though, let’s be honest, that’s not hard when the humans are so flawed and unlikeable. He’s a good boy through and through, with his gentle loyalty, intuitive nature, and love for walks, car trips, and rolling in things he definitely shouldn’t.
Beautifully written, unsettling, and strikingly Australian — The Farm is a story that lingers long after the final page.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2025
The farm is a psychological suspense that is set in the isolated Australian outback. It delves into sensitive topics such as fertility, addiction and emotional abuse which are handled so well.
Leila suffers a devastating miscarriage and with her partner James, relocates to his family farm to heal and take a break. Although whist she is there, she stumbles into a deep depression dealing with her loss and the isolation of living in the outback. To top this off, the farm that was suppose to aid in her healing process holds some devastating secrets.
Jessica painted the setting so well I actually felt like I was on the farm alongside Leila. The setting was haunting and mysterious and fitted the storyline perfectly.
The bond Leila forms with Rusty the family dog is beautiful. I felt he was her saving grace throughout her journey.
It was quite a slow burn but still kept me engaged throughout and on my toes right until the end. It had you continually thinking what's actually real, what am I imagining and who can you trust??
Even my own dog felt the connection to Rusty and the suspense throughout this book and funnily enough snuggled up to me every time I picked it up.
Thank you to Hachette, Tandem Collective and Jessica for allowing me to be part of this readalong.
Leila suffers a devastating miscarriage and with her partner James, relocates to his family farm to heal and take a break. Although whist she is there, she stumbles into a deep depression dealing with her loss and the isolation of living in the outback. To top this off, the farm that was suppose to aid in her healing process holds some devastating secrets.
Jessica painted the setting so well I actually felt like I was on the farm alongside Leila. The setting was haunting and mysterious and fitted the storyline perfectly.
The bond Leila forms with Rusty the family dog is beautiful. I felt he was her saving grace throughout her journey.
It was quite a slow burn but still kept me engaged throughout and on my toes right until the end. It had you continually thinking what's actually real, what am I imagining and who can you trust??
Even my own dog felt the connection to Rusty and the suspense throughout this book and funnily enough snuggled up to me every time I picked it up.
Thank you to Hachette, Tandem Collective and Jessica for allowing me to be part of this readalong.
December 18, 2025
The Farm is a compelling story, an easy read, with an interesting premise. I do feel some of the greater themes and character development fell flat. I would've liked to see some of the cultist symbolism and rituals fleshed out more, the ending did feel quite rushed. I get the impression that the author was intending for Leila's mental decline to come across as her becoming more gaslit over time, losing faith in her own judgement. But honestly it reads more like a person sinking deeper into substance abuse, making her such an unreliable narrator it's difficult to trust her recount of events at all. Which is not exactly what you want to be feeling when the protagonist is experiencing something so traumatic. I couldn't help but notice the subtle messaging throughout the story leading the reader to think that James may have abusive tendencies by suggesting that he is religious, perhaps more conservative than initially expected, and the consistent jabs at SAHMs, and the traditional family dynamic he grew up in. I feel this is a bit of an insulting modern day rhetoric.
There were some things that I felt were left unexplained. I get the impression that the property was meant to be haunted but the story doesn't read like a paranormal thriller. It almost seems too grounded in reality for the addition of ghosts to feel organic.
Why was Leila's reaction to approaching the attic so visceral? It almost read like it would be revealed there was some kind of gas leak or poisoning on the property that was causing her symptoms, considering her energy and brain fog seemed to fluctuate so much day to day. It felt like some details were written in without any real intention, which can be a bit off-putting in a thriller where the reader is questioning every detail. I did like the reveal at the end that she's having a daughter. It felt like it gave the story good closure knowing that the Crawley line is officially broken with the birth of a daughter
Overall it's a good story, a great debut novel. I'm excited to see where the author's career goes
There were some things that I felt were left unexplained. I get the impression that the property was meant to be haunted but the story doesn't read like a paranormal thriller. It almost seems too grounded in reality for the addition of ghosts to feel organic.
Why was Leila's reaction to approaching the attic so visceral? It almost read like it would be revealed there was some kind of gas leak or poisoning on the property that was causing her symptoms, considering her energy and brain fog seemed to fluctuate so much day to day. It felt like some details were written in without any real intention, which can be a bit off-putting in a thriller where the reader is questioning every detail. I did like the reveal at the end that she's having a daughter. It felt like it gave the story good closure knowing that the Crawley line is officially broken with the birth of a daughter
Overall it's a good story, a great debut novel. I'm excited to see where the author's career goes
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 27, 2025
What an intriguing read.
This is a ‘lobster in a pot’ book.
The water heats up so slowly you don’t realise it’s boiling until it’s too late.
A master class in slow burn tension.
Leila experiences a traumatic health ordeal and when she struggles to recover, her partner James suggests a year to recoup at his family’s farm property.
It’s isolated and peaceful until Leila starts hearing noises and seeing visions.
And it suddenly isn’t the relaxing year she’d envisaged. Not at all.
The Farm gave me major ‘Charlotte wood’ vibes, the style of writing; the small cast, meandering plot and remote location reminded me of ‘Stone Yard Devotional’. And the heavier themes had me reflecting on ‘The Natural way of things’.
The rights and roles of woman.
A right to own your own body, to make your own health decisions and make your own life decisions. A person first, womb second.
Rusty was my fav character - hurray for his tension inducing raised hackles. I’m so invested in a book with a dog 😂
Leila was a complex main character. Sometimes relatable, sometimes disconnected. Always fascinating.
This was a really disconcerting yet compelling read. Great for a book club!
This is a ‘lobster in a pot’ book.
The water heats up so slowly you don’t realise it’s boiling until it’s too late.
A master class in slow burn tension.
Leila experiences a traumatic health ordeal and when she struggles to recover, her partner James suggests a year to recoup at his family’s farm property.
It’s isolated and peaceful until Leila starts hearing noises and seeing visions.
And it suddenly isn’t the relaxing year she’d envisaged. Not at all.
The Farm gave me major ‘Charlotte wood’ vibes, the style of writing; the small cast, meandering plot and remote location reminded me of ‘Stone Yard Devotional’. And the heavier themes had me reflecting on ‘The Natural way of things’.
The rights and roles of woman.
A right to own your own body, to make your own health decisions and make your own life decisions. A person first, womb second.
Rusty was my fav character - hurray for his tension inducing raised hackles. I’m so invested in a book with a dog 😂
Leila was a complex main character. Sometimes relatable, sometimes disconnected. Always fascinating.
This was a really disconcerting yet compelling read. Great for a book club!
July 13, 2025
‘The Farm’ sounded interesting and provoked curiosity in me as it promised to have gothic elements and mystery. A winning combination for me since I read ‘Jane Eyre’ at age 12. Here goes:
I enjoyed this compelling book in the sense that I eagerly awaited learning more, in my next read. I just had to know what had happened at this farm setting before the protagonist’s stay there. It reminds me that while I love reading, it can be frustrating, too, as you wouldn’t stop a film right at an exciting part, but with reading, one has to get to bed at some reasonable stage. Needless to say, I stayed up late several nights, in reading this, and sneaked reading during the day, when I could have and should have done other things. It was engaging and kept my interest well.
What I didn’t like? Progressives would very much like this book, I assume, but I was frustrated by the politically correct references throughout. I felt like I know the author’s views on many of today’s issues, and it was heavy handed. Not everybody thinks the same about issues, such as abortion. After having had a very premature baby, I abhor abortion as murder in precious unborns, but it was spelled out what the author thinks we should think about it, as clearly stated in the acknowledgements. Please leave off preaching at us! Also, you don't need to swear in a novel, to write a modern novel. Overdid it. There are other ways to write authentically.
Sadly, due to the preaching of politically correct views, I don’t think I’ll rush back for more of this author. Sad, as it kept me very engaged.
I give it 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this compelling book in the sense that I eagerly awaited learning more, in my next read. I just had to know what had happened at this farm setting before the protagonist’s stay there. It reminds me that while I love reading, it can be frustrating, too, as you wouldn’t stop a film right at an exciting part, but with reading, one has to get to bed at some reasonable stage. Needless to say, I stayed up late several nights, in reading this, and sneaked reading during the day, when I could have and should have done other things. It was engaging and kept my interest well.
What I didn’t like? Progressives would very much like this book, I assume, but I was frustrated by the politically correct references throughout. I felt like I know the author’s views on many of today’s issues, and it was heavy handed. Not everybody thinks the same about issues, such as abortion. After having had a very premature baby, I abhor abortion as murder in precious unborns, but it was spelled out what the author thinks we should think about it, as clearly stated in the acknowledgements. Please leave off preaching at us! Also, you don't need to swear in a novel, to write a modern novel. Overdid it. There are other ways to write authentically.
Sadly, due to the preaching of politically correct views, I don’t think I’ll rush back for more of this author. Sad, as it kept me very engaged.
I give it 3.5 stars.
November 8, 2025
I really liked this one - couldn’t put it down - but there were a number of little things I wish we went back to but never did.
We never called Charlotte? Nothing more happened with Amelia. I thought there’d be more significance with the master bedroom and the attic - nothing else really happened concerning them like I thought there’d be something physical (or metaphysical) uncovered in either of those rooms. The religion was also never explained. I also wish there was more at the end, but that last sentence is a pretty good one.
It’s really difficult to read someone going through an abusive relationship and making excuses to stay until it’s too late.
We never called Charlotte? Nothing more happened with Amelia. I thought there’d be more significance with the master bedroom and the attic - nothing else really happened concerning them like I thought there’d be something physical (or metaphysical) uncovered in either of those rooms. The religion was also never explained. I also wish there was more at the end, but that last sentence is a pretty good one.
It’s really difficult to read someone going through an abusive relationship and making excuses to stay until it’s too late.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2025
WOW! This book really grabs you! 🐮👀
It's an eerie psychological thriller/crime book that keeps you guessing what's real & what isn't?!
The commentary on women's bodies, the expectations, the societal pressures, the mental & physical toll was so well written. I felt the emotion, the exhaustion & the grief from Leila (FMC). It was raw, real & very relatable.
I loved the gothic vibes with the Aussie outback setting, that was super unique! Also I LOVED RUSTY!! Not to be dramatic but I would die for him 🐾 the bond between him & Leila was such a beautiful edition to the story.
This book really did grab me from page 1, the pace slows down a little in the middle but the last 10% wowza!! What a debut!! 👏🏼
4.25 STARS - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Make sure to check the trigger warnings for this one!
#thefarm #winterofsuspense #thefarmreadalong #winterofsuspensereadalong #booklover #thriller
It's an eerie psychological thriller/crime book that keeps you guessing what's real & what isn't?!
The commentary on women's bodies, the expectations, the societal pressures, the mental & physical toll was so well written. I felt the emotion, the exhaustion & the grief from Leila (FMC). It was raw, real & very relatable.
I loved the gothic vibes with the Aussie outback setting, that was super unique! Also I LOVED RUSTY!! Not to be dramatic but I would die for him 🐾 the bond between him & Leila was such a beautiful edition to the story.
This book really did grab me from page 1, the pace slows down a little in the middle but the last 10% wowza!! What a debut!! 👏🏼
4.25 STARS - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Make sure to check the trigger warnings for this one!
#thefarm #winterofsuspense #thefarmreadalong #winterofsuspensereadalong #booklover #thriller
February 2, 2026
✨ 3 1/2 ✨ not a bad Aussie thriller; it had an eerie feel without being overly unsettling and I enjoyed the suspense that something wasn’t quite right on the farm.
This is a definitely a novel, that if turned into a film, my mother would absolutely rave about being the best thing since sliced bread lol
This is a definitely a novel, that if turned into a film, my mother would absolutely rave about being the best thing since sliced bread lol
October 12, 2025
An interesting debut! There were definitely parts that felt unique and the suspense was well written, but perhaps a little slow to burn. The last 50 pages or so were the most interesting and where the most happened seemed to happen plot wise. Altogether, not a bad debut.
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