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Fallow
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Expected 15 Sep 26Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 08:37:40
3 copies available
U.S. only
Slyly funny and disarmingly tender, Fallow is the story of a young woman who signs up to be the world’s first in-house corporate surrogate, then finds herself caught up in a social experiment of another kind.
Natalie knows one truth: There is no such thing as a good job.
As the clock ticks away at the workplace harassment call center, she tries to ignore the increasing pain in her jaw. She has no dental insurance. She has no skills or ambitions. She has student loans. And, minute by minute, she hears the many ways workers are not just not getting by, but actually getting hustled.
Then, at the blood bank where she sells her plasma, a mysterious flyer leads her to The Company. Natalie turns out to be the perfect candidate for their pilot in-house surrogate. The Company pitches it as an opportunity to help women access greater gender equity, motherhood without maternity leave. Finally, she will be adequately—generously—compensated.
For years, her every need is stacks of healthy meals in the refrigerator of a luxury condo, fitness coaches and nutritionists, around-the-clock healthcare. Between deliveries, she takes time off—no obligations or expectations. For the first time in her life, she is good at her job; for the first time, she feels free.
But just as she’s about to fulfill the terms of her contract, a staffing decision upends everything and drags her deep into another social experiment. There she meets new questions about her future, her freedom, her purpose, and what she can expect from the world.
Woundingly funny and deeply moving, Sarah Anderson’s Fallow is a tender, hilarious, alarmingly real vision of a woman balancing on the knife-edge of capitalism as she comes to realize who she wants to be.
Natalie knows one truth: There is no such thing as a good job.
As the clock ticks away at the workplace harassment call center, she tries to ignore the increasing pain in her jaw. She has no dental insurance. She has no skills or ambitions. She has student loans. And, minute by minute, she hears the many ways workers are not just not getting by, but actually getting hustled.
Then, at the blood bank where she sells her plasma, a mysterious flyer leads her to The Company. Natalie turns out to be the perfect candidate for their pilot in-house surrogate. The Company pitches it as an opportunity to help women access greater gender equity, motherhood without maternity leave. Finally, she will be adequately—generously—compensated.
For years, her every need is stacks of healthy meals in the refrigerator of a luxury condo, fitness coaches and nutritionists, around-the-clock healthcare. Between deliveries, she takes time off—no obligations or expectations. For the first time in her life, she is good at her job; for the first time, she feels free.
But just as she’s about to fulfill the terms of her contract, a staffing decision upends everything and drags her deep into another social experiment. There she meets new questions about her future, her freedom, her purpose, and what she can expect from the world.
Woundingly funny and deeply moving, Sarah Anderson’s Fallow is a tender, hilarious, alarmingly real vision of a woman balancing on the knife-edge of capitalism as she comes to realize who she wants to be.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I wondered if Dr. X and Shane were actually onto something—if I had a little bit of trad wife in my genetic code. Maybe what I'd told Phoebe was right. Maybe this was something I was just good at.
No idea why this is tagged as "horror" on Goodreads. It is not a horror novel— in fact, it's barely a dystopian novel —but about a near future where a company offers surrogacy as part of their hiring package, ensuring that pregnancy doesn't mean a motherhood penalty for working women.
Natalie, sick and tired of her current job, seizes the opportunity to be a surrogate, to escape soul-sucking work culture and get paid to do almost nothing for nine months.
I've been very interested in the ethics around surrogacy ever since I read The Farm some years ago. Is it a noble venture? Or just another way of commodifying women's bodies? It also, of course, further complicates the already tense issue of whose rights have priority.
The way I would describe Fallow is very much a novel of two halves, and the first was much more to my tastes. I found Natalie funny and charming. While she is perhaps naive in some ways, I think her desire to escape from the rat race and indignity of corporate America is easily understandable. She essentially buys herself time and freedom by selling her body… is it worth it? I'd say Anderson gives a fairly balanced view on it.
It explores what happens when a surrogate becomes emotionally attached to the family they are carrying for, and also what happens when it is decided that a pregnancy should be terminated. If you are interested in ethical issues, surrogacy is drowning in them.
I do think, however, that it reaches a point where it is clear that the author has explored the topic she wanted to and doesn't really know where to go with it or how to finish it. Years go by in a sentence, and, at one point, Natalie makes a decision that I would have liked more introspection on. It was not really clear why she was doing it, what drove her to make that decision.
The last third or so was why I could not rate higher than 3 stars. Everything after got sillier and boring. The entire farm commune aspect was uninteresting to me, even though I did get the point Anderson was reaching for— the longing for a simpler life, finding pleasure in work again.
Lots to like in the first half, but a difficult one to find a satisfying finish for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4.5 ⭐️ I enjoyed this a lot. This is a speculative, literary fiction novel about a woman and her freedoms. It's not exactly a satire but more of dystopian concept that nails the commentary about workplace/corporate culture, woman's autonomy and reproductive rights. Its strange yet philosophical, it ask great questions and offers accurate insight into what work, life and benefits are for pregnant women or mothers in general in corporate America. I thought that Anderson wrote a sharp, darkly funny concept and I know many people will compare this to Yesteryear. I am someone who LOVED Yesteryear and while the books have a lot of similarities, they are quite different in the points they are trying to make. Fallow is more about the moral compass and personal freedoms, our outlooks on life and how we want to live it. Natalie, our protagonist is such a complex character! She is complicated, selfish, lazy even yet she feels like an actual person. What makes this story amazing is how accurately it captures the issues and critiques of corporate America: how in America, the corporate culture penalizes motherhood or pregnancy. Women post pregnancy are more likely to be let go or are never fairly compensated. The system offers ZERO benefits or time off or guarantees job security past the first 12 weeks postpartum. Some of us are lucky to get FMLA for the first 12 weeks, while most women are expected to return after 6-8 weeks back to work as if newborns don't need to be raised. What a joke!
What's it about?
A 23-year old woman becomes a part of a corporate-surrogacy experiment, where women become in-house corporate surrogates. She agrees to a 10 year contact involving 7 pregnancies. In exchange, she gets financial security, best medical care, great housing, personal fitness, safety and food security. Sounds like paradise right? Well, even thought the company gives her plenty material freedoms, the company also takes away her bodily freedom. The Company controls everything in her life. From what she can drink and eat, her health is monitored, there are rules about sex and relationships. After completion of her 7 pregnancies, Natalie unexpectedly enters a second social experiment with which Natalie struggles to embrace. In this part of the novel, Natalie is faced with a dilemma that poses many questions about human value, choice and freedoms once again.
Modern workplace is not for Natalie. At least not the Natalie which we initially meet. She hates working, she hates her low paying job or the freedoms and luxuries of life she cannot afford. Natalie is disinterested in everything that is conventional like career, achievement and even self-improvement. She's selfish and cynical and when she is presented with a bizarre opportunity, she obviously takes it! Who wouldn't want six figure compensation or a laissez-faire lifestyle? So Natalie accepts and thinks of these pregnancies as a 'job'. Well.. she goes on to have seven of those and she's even promised a mommy make over after her contract ends. Isn't that sweet?
But what about attachment? What about emotional, human attachment. Or the effect the pregnancy has on the person? Surrogacy is a one of the most selfless things one can do for another family. There is beauty and light but no one speaks about its darkness. Natalie finds herself emotionally affected, seeking for simple human connection to families and even imagines growing close to them post birth. One family promises her rainbow and butterflies but all their promises never really come to fruition. The baby is still someone else's and Natalie is just a carrier. So this is where the book shines by showing how regardless of money, the corporations still wants a postpartum new mother and women in general (because its us who actually do the 'reproductive' work) to work and behave like a spreadsheet. Corporate America wants us to forget that we just birthed a new life and wants us to believe that pregnancy doesn't hurt women careers. But it does, childbirth does cause women to lose their jobs. Companies are more likely to let go of pregnant employees more likely than non-pregnant women. How many times have you heard a new mother lost her job? I hear it all the time. Women shouldn't have to pick between careers and motherhood. Women are constantly judged and judged harshly in all aspects of their performance. Corporate America should do better.
The novel in the later part of the story takes a huge turning point where Natalie, after completion of her pregnancies, is pushed into another social experiment without the luxuries of the life she was once given. Here, Natalie discovers the true value of human connection, capitalistic exploitation and what it really means to have a choice. While this part of the novel might feel far-fetched, I enjoyed this contrast very much. We are given two sides of the spectrum, one dystopian and the other more communal. We get a sense of life from both sides, the positive and negatives, as well as what 'freedom' really means. Overall, I thought this was a very thought provoking book and shouldn't be compared to Yesteryear but rather be appreciated for a refreshingly interesting content it carried and all the philosophical/social takes it offered on corporate America. Definitely an eye-opener and a great book for bookclubs!
If the body becomes an occupation, would you do it to get freedom from economic pressures and anxieties of life?
This is featured on BOTM for September! Very easy to sign up & cancel at no additional cost to you.
Get your $5 copy here: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
BOTM features early releases and has great quality books. You can get audiobooks too!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Sarah Anderson for an early copy.
Publication: September 15, 2025
What's it about?
A 23-year old woman becomes a part of a corporate-surrogacy experiment, where women become in-house corporate surrogates. She agrees to a 10 year contact involving 7 pregnancies. In exchange, she gets financial security, best medical care, great housing, personal fitness, safety and food security. Sounds like paradise right? Well, even thought the company gives her plenty material freedoms, the company also takes away her bodily freedom. The Company controls everything in her life. From what she can drink and eat, her health is monitored, there are rules about sex and relationships. After completion of her 7 pregnancies, Natalie unexpectedly enters a second social experiment with which Natalie struggles to embrace. In this part of the novel, Natalie is faced with a dilemma that poses many questions about human value, choice and freedoms once again.
Modern workplace is not for Natalie. At least not the Natalie which we initially meet. She hates working, she hates her low paying job or the freedoms and luxuries of life she cannot afford. Natalie is disinterested in everything that is conventional like career, achievement and even self-improvement. She's selfish and cynical and when she is presented with a bizarre opportunity, she obviously takes it! Who wouldn't want six figure compensation or a laissez-faire lifestyle? So Natalie accepts and thinks of these pregnancies as a 'job'. Well.. she goes on to have seven of those and she's even promised a mommy make over after her contract ends. Isn't that sweet?
But what about attachment? What about emotional, human attachment. Or the effect the pregnancy has on the person? Surrogacy is a one of the most selfless things one can do for another family. There is beauty and light but no one speaks about its darkness. Natalie finds herself emotionally affected, seeking for simple human connection to families and even imagines growing close to them post birth. One family promises her rainbow and butterflies but all their promises never really come to fruition. The baby is still someone else's and Natalie is just a carrier. So this is where the book shines by showing how regardless of money, the corporations still wants a postpartum new mother and women in general (because its us who actually do the 'reproductive' work) to work and behave like a spreadsheet. Corporate America wants us to forget that we just birthed a new life and wants us to believe that pregnancy doesn't hurt women careers. But it does, childbirth does cause women to lose their jobs. Companies are more likely to let go of pregnant employees more likely than non-pregnant women. How many times have you heard a new mother lost her job? I hear it all the time. Women shouldn't have to pick between careers and motherhood. Women are constantly judged and judged harshly in all aspects of their performance. Corporate America should do better.
The novel in the later part of the story takes a huge turning point where Natalie, after completion of her pregnancies, is pushed into another social experiment without the luxuries of the life she was once given. Here, Natalie discovers the true value of human connection, capitalistic exploitation and what it really means to have a choice. While this part of the novel might feel far-fetched, I enjoyed this contrast very much. We are given two sides of the spectrum, one dystopian and the other more communal. We get a sense of life from both sides, the positive and negatives, as well as what 'freedom' really means. Overall, I thought this was a very thought provoking book and shouldn't be compared to Yesteryear but rather be appreciated for a refreshingly interesting content it carried and all the philosophical/social takes it offered on corporate America. Definitely an eye-opener and a great book for bookclubs!
If the body becomes an occupation, would you do it to get freedom from economic pressures and anxieties of life?
This is featured on BOTM for September! Very easy to sign up & cancel at no additional cost to you.
Get your $5 copy here: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
BOTM features early releases and has great quality books. You can get audiobooks too!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and the author, Sarah Anderson for an early copy.
Publication: September 15, 2025
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2026
There are some books that you go into knowing you’ll just enjoy it, so it’s a giant relief when they don’t disappoint me. This is my kind of book in every way. Literary, darkly comedic, a bit of a grounded science fiction or speculative trip, a bit political, sarcasm heavy.
Sarah Anderson is coming in hot with her debut and I’m already so excited for her release and to see what she does next. Fallow follows our main character Natalie through an experimental first foray into surrogacy programs for tech companies who are desperate to even the ground for women wanting to give birth. The company clearly is wanting to put women first, allow them to keep their bottom line, their cultural and societal impact on the company and not lose the many sad benefits of staying at work during pregnancy and maternity leave. Are you catching my tone??
I’m utterly in love with Natalie and her neutrality in the beginning of this seemingly too good to be true program. The ramifications on her life, money, health and friendships. What happens when you can’t be honest 9 months out of 16? This reads like a Black Mirror episode with a little less horror and science fiction and is made for readers just like me.
Sarah Anderson is coming in hot with her debut and I’m already so excited for her release and to see what she does next. Fallow follows our main character Natalie through an experimental first foray into surrogacy programs for tech companies who are desperate to even the ground for women wanting to give birth. The company clearly is wanting to put women first, allow them to keep their bottom line, their cultural and societal impact on the company and not lose the many sad benefits of staying at work during pregnancy and maternity leave. Are you catching my tone??
I’m utterly in love with Natalie and her neutrality in the beginning of this seemingly too good to be true program. The ramifications on her life, money, health and friendships. What happens when you can’t be honest 9 months out of 16? This reads like a Black Mirror episode with a little less horror and science fiction and is made for readers just like me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved her short stories, Take Me to Kirkland (Joyland) and Left (Epiphany SS20), so I am super excited to read her novel!
Update: It’s fantastic! The premise seems far-fetched on paper, but the way the story and characters developed, it felt totally plausible. I think millennials are so desperate for financial relief that a lot more people would sign up to be surrogates than you might think. I loved the main character and her dynamic relationship with her mom and sisters. Anderson’s prose isn’t flowery, it’s simple and accessible, but she manages to use details and build narrative that feels full and rich in ways that more lyrical fiction can ultimately feel hollow. I’d be surprised if this book doesn’t end up in my top 5 for the year. I think there will be a great response from readers. It feels like a book you can recommend to anyone. Excited to read more from Anderson in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and FSG for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update: It’s fantastic! The premise seems far-fetched on paper, but the way the story and characters developed, it felt totally plausible. I think millennials are so desperate for financial relief that a lot more people would sign up to be surrogates than you might think. I loved the main character and her dynamic relationship with her mom and sisters. Anderson’s prose isn’t flowery, it’s simple and accessible, but she manages to use details and build narrative that feels full and rich in ways that more lyrical fiction can ultimately feel hollow. I’d be surprised if this book doesn’t end up in my top 5 for the year. I think there will be a great response from readers. It feels like a book you can recommend to anyone. Excited to read more from Anderson in the future.
Thank you NetGalley and FSG for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2026
I thought it was aight! A book in two parts really. The first more my speed. Cynical and critical and examining systematic control albeit through a lazy and avoidant character. The second half is a pretty hard swerve into the pastoral that felt pretty alien for our narrator. Meh!
March 23, 2026
Damn
Banger after banger.
I am so thankful to FSG Books, NetGalley, and Sarah Anderson for advanced digital access before this beauty hits shelves on September 15, 2026.
Natalie has found herself in a sticky situation. She desperately needs her wisdom teeth removed, and doesn’t have health insurance… so what does she do?? Becomes an in-house, contractual surrogate for a massive tech company, pops out 7 babies in 10 years, deposits hundreds of thousands of dollars, and loses all connection with the real world as she’s hidden beneath NDAs and strict rules.
Woof.
There were times where I read this novel and thought, heck, I could do that.
But no pregnancy is like the other, and some experiences leave her scarred, and longing for a connection she didn’t previously anticipate.
Darkly funny and horrifically spun, Fallow played with my emotions and sent me spiraling. I’m so excited to see what everyone else thinks!!
Banger after banger.
I am so thankful to FSG Books, NetGalley, and Sarah Anderson for advanced digital access before this beauty hits shelves on September 15, 2026.
Natalie has found herself in a sticky situation. She desperately needs her wisdom teeth removed, and doesn’t have health insurance… so what does she do?? Becomes an in-house, contractual surrogate for a massive tech company, pops out 7 babies in 10 years, deposits hundreds of thousands of dollars, and loses all connection with the real world as she’s hidden beneath NDAs and strict rules.
Woof.
There were times where I read this novel and thought, heck, I could do that.
But no pregnancy is like the other, and some experiences leave her scarred, and longing for a connection she didn’t previously anticipate.
Darkly funny and horrifically spun, Fallow played with my emotions and sent me spiraling. I’m so excited to see what everyone else thinks!!
May 21, 2026
the real horror is that this book made the dystopian, life-altering corporate in-house surrogacy job sound more peaceful than a normal office job.
am i part of the problem if I would seriously consider signing too if it meant I didn’t have to ever work a 9-5 again & still have all my bills paid??
moo. 🤰🐮😂
am i part of the problem if I would seriously consider signing too if it meant I didn’t have to ever work a 9-5 again & still have all my bills paid??
moo. 🤰🐮😂
May 3, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and FSG for the arc!!
Wow this was GOOD. Controversial feminism with a preposterous (not really) plot that would make a fabulous movie! Women are crucial to daily life and society as a whole, always making HERstory!!!!
Wow this was GOOD. Controversial feminism with a preposterous (not really) plot that would make a fabulous movie! Women are crucial to daily life and society as a whole, always making HERstory!!!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC kindly sent by the publisher.
all opinions are my own!
this one comes out on September 15th
this book wasn't what I expected and I mean that as a compliment. Fallow's premise seems simple: Natalie, a young woman with no dental insurance and thousands of dollars of student loans, decides to apply for a new job at The Company. here, she will be fairly compesated for her work - for the first time in her life. the job? become an in-house surrogate for The Company's executives, delivering 7 babies in 10 years. Natalie's life drastically changes: she starts to live a comfortable life where she no longer needs to worry about the next paycheck. but suddenly, her dream starts to unravel and, through humour and endless surprises, we follow Natalie's journey through adulthood in the modern age. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! Natalie's story was unique and special in its own way. although she was, in many ways, an unlikable protagonist, I loved following her journey of self discovery in a world dominated by capitalism where workers live only to increase capital, losing their individuality and freedom. a stunning debut, can't wait to read Sarah Anderson's next novel.
all opinions are my own!
this one comes out on September 15th
this book wasn't what I expected and I mean that as a compliment. Fallow's premise seems simple: Natalie, a young woman with no dental insurance and thousands of dollars of student loans, decides to apply for a new job at The Company. here, she will be fairly compesated for her work - for the first time in her life. the job? become an in-house surrogate for The Company's executives, delivering 7 babies in 10 years. Natalie's life drastically changes: she starts to live a comfortable life where she no longer needs to worry about the next paycheck. but suddenly, her dream starts to unravel and, through humour and endless surprises, we follow Natalie's journey through adulthood in the modern age. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! Natalie's story was unique and special in its own way. although she was, in many ways, an unlikable protagonist, I loved following her journey of self discovery in a world dominated by capitalism where workers live only to increase capital, losing their individuality and freedom. a stunning debut, can't wait to read Sarah Anderson's next novel.
July 18, 2026
Fallow started out as commentary about capitalism, the patriarchy, and corporate greed. From student loan debt to low wages, skyrocketing housing costs, and a subpar healthcare system, the book shows us firsthand how difficult it is for young people to survive in the modern world.
When Natalie is faced with needing a painful and expensive dental procedure, she turns to plasma donation to supplement her low-paying call center job. At the plasma center, she learns of a job as a corporate surrogate, which could be the answer to all of her financial problems.
Without giving too much away, about the middle of the book the narrative takes a dramatic turn away from the urban commentary and shifts toward something much more pastoral. The cow on the cover is a metaphor, but it's also literal.
Overall, this book was interesting, and I appreciated the questions about society invoked by the text. At points the pacing felt a little slow, and the book felt disjointed — the first half had a very different vibe than the second half.
Through it all, our main character was untethered floating along wherever the wind took her. She was so passive and indifferent; life was something that happened to her. She was a victim. I think her character arc could've been delivered more strongly, as this was clearly meant to be a coming-of-age story, because in the end, "she gave birth to herself."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
When Natalie is faced with needing a painful and expensive dental procedure, she turns to plasma donation to supplement her low-paying call center job. At the plasma center, she learns of a job as a corporate surrogate, which could be the answer to all of her financial problems.
Without giving too much away, about the middle of the book the narrative takes a dramatic turn away from the urban commentary and shifts toward something much more pastoral. The cow on the cover is a metaphor, but it's also literal.
Overall, this book was interesting, and I appreciated the questions about society invoked by the text. At points the pacing felt a little slow, and the book felt disjointed — the first half had a very different vibe than the second half.
Through it all, our main character was untethered floating along wherever the wind took her. She was so passive and indifferent; life was something that happened to her. She was a victim. I think her character arc could've been delivered more strongly, as this was clearly meant to be a coming-of-age story, because in the end, "she gave birth to herself."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
September 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5. Thank you @fsgbooks for the gifted copy, this is out 9/26.
What a smart and thought provoking speculative satire!
Dissatisfied with her dead-end job and in need of cash, Natalie agrees to become an in-house corporate surrogate for “The Company.” She signs a contract to have seven children in ten years (!) in exchange for fantastic pay and benefits. The Company tracks her eating, her sleep, her exercise – even her heart rate. Her time off between pregnancies is her “fallow” period where she can go wild, doing whatever she wants for six months before preparing to become pregnant again. It’s a little dystopian, but it’s actually a pretty believable premise in a lot of ways!
Halfway through, the book takes an unexpected turn, shifting both spatially and tonally, to Natalie living on a co-op farm and experiencing a coming of age. I preferred the speculative front half, but this was still a fantastic read overall that I really enjoyed! For fans of Severance and Yesteryear!
What a smart and thought provoking speculative satire!
Dissatisfied with her dead-end job and in need of cash, Natalie agrees to become an in-house corporate surrogate for “The Company.” She signs a contract to have seven children in ten years (!) in exchange for fantastic pay and benefits. The Company tracks her eating, her sleep, her exercise – even her heart rate. Her time off between pregnancies is her “fallow” period where she can go wild, doing whatever she wants for six months before preparing to become pregnant again. It’s a little dystopian, but it’s actually a pretty believable premise in a lot of ways!
Halfway through, the book takes an unexpected turn, shifting both spatially and tonally, to Natalie living on a co-op farm and experiencing a coming of age. I preferred the speculative front half, but this was still a fantastic read overall that I really enjoyed! For fans of Severance and Yesteryear!
July 24, 2026
An unexpected hit for me! Thank you to FSG for the NetGalley ARC.
With the wit and humor of Jen Beagin’s Big Swiss, the eerie vibes of Apple TV’s Severance, and a perfect companion to Blackett and Gleichman’s Trust & Safety, Fallow by Sarah Anderson is a must-read speculative workplace novel.
Would you rather live a life of comfort, with everything provided for you - but your body doesn’t belong to you? Or, would you prefer freedom and community, but live a life filled with labor and hard work?
Fallow explores capitalism, labor, pregnancy, utopia, and the workforce through the lens of Natalie, the first corporate surrogate for The Company.
I did not expect to love Fallow as much as I did, and found it impossible to put down. I thought the book covered a lot of really fascinating topics. But, I never felt like any of the themes or metaphors were being spoon-fed or overexplained, which is usually what deters me from a lot of contemporary novels. This novel was hilarious, thoughtful, horrifying, and well-plotted, and I would highly recommend it; in fact, I’ve already gotten 6 of my friends to add it to their TBR!
With the wit and humor of Jen Beagin’s Big Swiss, the eerie vibes of Apple TV’s Severance, and a perfect companion to Blackett and Gleichman’s Trust & Safety, Fallow by Sarah Anderson is a must-read speculative workplace novel.
Would you rather live a life of comfort, with everything provided for you - but your body doesn’t belong to you? Or, would you prefer freedom and community, but live a life filled with labor and hard work?
Fallow explores capitalism, labor, pregnancy, utopia, and the workforce through the lens of Natalie, the first corporate surrogate for The Company.
I did not expect to love Fallow as much as I did, and found it impossible to put down. I thought the book covered a lot of really fascinating topics. But, I never felt like any of the themes or metaphors were being spoon-fed or overexplained, which is usually what deters me from a lot of contemporary novels. This novel was hilarious, thoughtful, horrifying, and well-plotted, and I would highly recommend it; in fact, I’ve already gotten 6 of my friends to add it to their TBR!
August 13, 2026
Fallow is unlike any novel I've ever read and I say that in the best way possible. I went in blind (which I fully recommend) and genuinely had zero idea where the story was going, how anything would play out, or where we would end up. Any and all guesses I had were wildly wrong and quite frankly, I loved that.
Fallow takes an interesting perspective on feminism, motherhood, and doing whatever it takes to get ahead in your career. Pitched as a private and exclusive pilot program, The Company hires Natalie to be The Company Surrogate in order to allow women to "have it all." Why sacrifice motherhood for your career or your career for motherhood when you can have them both without sacrificing anything at all? No time away to give birth or recover. No ramp up from an extended leave. Just work one day, baby the next, and back to work the next.
Natalie is also unlike any protagonist I've ever read. Part of me hated her - she was passive, lazy, and though she was at the center of the entire plot, she was the least interesting part of the book. Another part of me was wildly impressed with her - despite being lazy and passive, she endured years of pregnancies and isolation with seemingly little complaint or negative consequence. I kept thinking the story would lead one way only to be so utterly and completely wrong that I had to just brace myself for the ride. Rarely do I wonder where earlier drafts of a work led, but this is a book where I'd be so excited to pick the author's brain.
Controversial, insightful, satiric... this one will spark heated conversations and lively debates.
Thank you to Farrar Straus for the copy. Don't miss this one!
Fallow takes an interesting perspective on feminism, motherhood, and doing whatever it takes to get ahead in your career. Pitched as a private and exclusive pilot program, The Company hires Natalie to be The Company Surrogate in order to allow women to "have it all." Why sacrifice motherhood for your career or your career for motherhood when you can have them both without sacrificing anything at all? No time away to give birth or recover. No ramp up from an extended leave. Just work one day, baby the next, and back to work the next.
Natalie is also unlike any protagonist I've ever read. Part of me hated her - she was passive, lazy, and though she was at the center of the entire plot, she was the least interesting part of the book. Another part of me was wildly impressed with her - despite being lazy and passive, she endured years of pregnancies and isolation with seemingly little complaint or negative consequence. I kept thinking the story would lead one way only to be so utterly and completely wrong that I had to just brace myself for the ride. Rarely do I wonder where earlier drafts of a work led, but this is a book where I'd be so excited to pick the author's brain.
Controversial, insightful, satiric... this one will spark heated conversations and lively debates.
Thank you to Farrar Straus for the copy. Don't miss this one!
July 29, 2026
Fallow is an engaging novel built on a strong concept: what if a major company provided in-house surrogacy services for its employees? What kind of woman would want to serve in this role? Who would this scheme ultimately benefit?
For the first two parts of this book, I thought it handled those questions well and did a good job highlighting some of the thornier issues surrounding surrogacy. Unfortunately, this doesn't exactly land the plane when it takes a sharp turn in the final third and then meanders to a strange, false feeling ending. It is a debut, and so in some ways it feels like two separate stories that were worked into one.
I still enjoyed the beginning of this book and all of the questions the idea of corporate surrogacy raises, so I still think this is worth checking out. It would probably make for either the best or worst book club pick, depending on the discussion that follows.
Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
For the first two parts of this book, I thought it handled those questions well and did a good job highlighting some of the thornier issues surrounding surrogacy. Unfortunately, this doesn't exactly land the plane when it takes a sharp turn in the final third and then meanders to a strange, false feeling ending. It is a debut, and so in some ways it feels like two separate stories that were worked into one.
I still enjoyed the beginning of this book and all of the questions the idea of corporate surrogacy raises, so I still think this is worth checking out. It would probably make for either the best or worst book club pick, depending on the discussion that follows.
Many thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 9, 2026
This book is an amazing foot in that it is a commentary on corporate and capitalistic culture. In addition, there's a kidnapping, living at a commune. Sound confusing? Let me explain!
Natalie, our main character, is desperate to get dental insurance so that she can get her wisdom teeth removed. She was at the point of doing just about everything to make money, when a mysterious advertisement to be a corporate surrogate for a fortune 500 company. The goal? Increase employee productivity, more specifically female identifying employees, in an effort to help lessen the gender gap. The solution, allow this corporate surrogate to have your kids.
The premise of this book had me hooked. What I appreciate about this book is that there is such impactful humor that lands with lessons. I think that this book tackles what companies will do to make sure they are producing. In addition, I think that Anderson does a nice job at demonstrating that college educated people are financially struggling in their 20's and the lack of support to get necessary health things completed, people will to do just about everything.
There is also great lessons learned on the surrogacy process and the impact it has on a gestational carrier in all aspects of their life. In addition, the relationships they have for the family they are supporting. Some of these relationships could be VERY interesting, and that is all I will say without ruining the book!
If you liked Yesteryear and Handmaids tale, this book is for you.
Natalie, our main character, is desperate to get dental insurance so that she can get her wisdom teeth removed. She was at the point of doing just about everything to make money, when a mysterious advertisement to be a corporate surrogate for a fortune 500 company. The goal? Increase employee productivity, more specifically female identifying employees, in an effort to help lessen the gender gap. The solution, allow this corporate surrogate to have your kids.
The premise of this book had me hooked. What I appreciate about this book is that there is such impactful humor that lands with lessons. I think that this book tackles what companies will do to make sure they are producing. In addition, I think that Anderson does a nice job at demonstrating that college educated people are financially struggling in their 20's and the lack of support to get necessary health things completed, people will to do just about everything.
There is also great lessons learned on the surrogacy process and the impact it has on a gestational carrier in all aspects of their life. In addition, the relationships they have for the family they are supporting. Some of these relationships could be VERY interesting, and that is all I will say without ruining the book!
If you liked Yesteryear and Handmaids tale, this book is for you.
Read
May 27, 2026Enjoyed the critique of work and capitalism at the centre of this novel but some of the plot points were bewildering and inconsistent. The premise is great, the writing is sometimes excellent and other times functional… I felt like this didn’t know whether it wanted to be literary or not.
September 3, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC! This book had an interesting premise and raised an important question: How far would you go to achieve complete financial security?
I was super intrigued by the first half which showcased a sharp, witty, (sometimes funny) capitalistic take on society and kept me on the edge of my seat to know what would happen next. But the second half felt like a completely different story, as it shifted into a strange hippie/commune/cult-ish direction that didn’t work for me because there was (in my opinion) a lack of tension and stakes.
I kept expecting the plot to build toward something bigger, especially with the fascinating moral question surrounding corporate control and reproduction. The story lost momentum and fizzled out instead.
I did appreciate how the author didn’t shame the women in the story for the positions they were in, but rather presented them in a normal and neutral way, showing that the real enemy in the story was capitalism and greed.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept and the first half A LOT and really wish it wouldn’t have ultimately switched directions in the way it did. Was it bad? No. I just expected it to deliver on the potential of its premise and it didn’t for me. Also, I expected more cows. Lol.
I was super intrigued by the first half which showcased a sharp, witty, (sometimes funny) capitalistic take on society and kept me on the edge of my seat to know what would happen next. But the second half felt like a completely different story, as it shifted into a strange hippie/commune/cult-ish direction that didn’t work for me because there was (in my opinion) a lack of tension and stakes.
I kept expecting the plot to build toward something bigger, especially with the fascinating moral question surrounding corporate control and reproduction. The story lost momentum and fizzled out instead.
I did appreciate how the author didn’t shame the women in the story for the positions they were in, but rather presented them in a normal and neutral way, showing that the real enemy in the story was capitalism and greed.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept and the first half A LOT and really wish it wouldn’t have ultimately switched directions in the way it did. Was it bad? No. I just expected it to deliver on the potential of its premise and it didn’t for me. Also, I expected more cows. Lol.
July 20, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy!
I went into Fallow immediately in love with its speculative concept — in-house surrogates feel exactly like something that late-stage capitalism would invent. I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, which fit almost perfectly into my expectations for such a book. Conversely, the last third feels almost like a whole different novel... yet I was pleasantly surprised.
“But just as she’s about to fulfill the terms of her contract, a staffing decision upends everything and drags her deep into another social experiment.” — This is how that section is described in the synopsis, but that description doesn’t feel exactly true to how the section occurs within the book itself. Truthfully, it set false expectations that left me almost disappointed when we reached that point in the novel. But once we got into the groove of the last third, I ended up enjoying it. The last part of the novel is pastoral, rejuvenating, and emotionally feels like the “fallow” period referenced throughout the book (and of course, its title). I’m also just a sucker for a good ending.
Overall, the plot was fast-paced, and I really enjoyed exploring Natalie’s relationships with other characters (Jackie, Anika, and Phoebe in particular). There were a couple of plot threads that I wish had been wrapped up a bit more clearly, but this didn’t impede my enjoyment of the book.
This book feels less about surrogacy per se, and rather about labor in a capitalist society overall. It subverted my expectations by the end, even though it fit them so well at the beginning. It’s a read that I would definitely recommend, and I’m really interested in seeing readers discuss the topics brought up in the novel!
I went into Fallow immediately in love with its speculative concept — in-house surrogates feel exactly like something that late-stage capitalism would invent. I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of the book, which fit almost perfectly into my expectations for such a book. Conversely, the last third feels almost like a whole different novel... yet I was pleasantly surprised.
“But just as she’s about to fulfill the terms of her contract, a staffing decision upends everything and drags her deep into another social experiment.” — This is how that section is described in the synopsis, but that description doesn’t feel exactly true to how the section occurs within the book itself. Truthfully, it set false expectations that left me almost disappointed when we reached that point in the novel. But once we got into the groove of the last third, I ended up enjoying it. The last part of the novel is pastoral, rejuvenating, and emotionally feels like the “fallow” period referenced throughout the book (and of course, its title). I’m also just a sucker for a good ending.
Overall, the plot was fast-paced, and I really enjoyed exploring Natalie’s relationships with other characters (Jackie, Anika, and Phoebe in particular). There were a couple of plot threads that I wish had been wrapped up a bit more clearly, but this didn’t impede my enjoyment of the book.
This book feels less about surrogacy per se, and rather about labor in a capitalist society overall. It subverted my expectations by the end, even though it fit them so well at the beginning. It’s a read that I would definitely recommend, and I’m really interested in seeing readers discuss the topics brought up in the novel!
August 14, 2026
Thank you to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for a #gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Fallow by Sarah Anderson is a unique speculative fiction story with slightly dystopian vibes. The plot aims to cleverly examine themes of bodily autonomy, motherhood, and capitalism. The story features Natalie, a young woman who hates working a traditional job, and signs up to be the world’s first company surrogate. The company claims that offering a surrogate to its female executives will allow for greater gender equity because the females won’t need maternity leave.
This is one of those stories that I needed to sit with for a while after finishing to fully digest it. I was immediately drawn in by the unique premise. The pacing was a bit uneven for me and I had some difficulty connecting with Natalie. She’s quite an unlikable character who is immature and more interested in finding a shortcut to an easier life. But she’s often funny and at times I found her sympathetic and also endearing as she tried to find where she fits in. The last third of the story took an unexpected turn that required some suspension of disbelief. It seemed like the author had specific things that she wanted to say about capitalism, bodily autonomy, and true freedom but her message became somewhat muddled. Ultimately I thought this was a fascinating concept that had a few issues with execution. It will give readers a lot to talk about 3.5/5⭐️
Fallow by Sarah Anderson is a unique speculative fiction story with slightly dystopian vibes. The plot aims to cleverly examine themes of bodily autonomy, motherhood, and capitalism. The story features Natalie, a young woman who hates working a traditional job, and signs up to be the world’s first company surrogate. The company claims that offering a surrogate to its female executives will allow for greater gender equity because the females won’t need maternity leave.
This is one of those stories that I needed to sit with for a while after finishing to fully digest it. I was immediately drawn in by the unique premise. The pacing was a bit uneven for me and I had some difficulty connecting with Natalie. She’s quite an unlikable character who is immature and more interested in finding a shortcut to an easier life. But she’s often funny and at times I found her sympathetic and also endearing as she tried to find where she fits in. The last third of the story took an unexpected turn that required some suspension of disbelief. It seemed like the author had specific things that she wanted to say about capitalism, bodily autonomy, and true freedom but her message became somewhat muddled. Ultimately I thought this was a fascinating concept that had a few issues with execution. It will give readers a lot to talk about 3.5/5⭐️
June 17, 2026
I really enjoyed Sarah Anderson's Fallow. Natalie hates her low-paying job and has started selling her plasma for extra cash. She desperately needs dental insurance, so she applies for a mysterious position at "The Company," an unnamed, uber-famous tech company. She makes it through every step of the hiring process only to discover that she will be a surrogate.
Corporate America is tired of women underperforming during pregnancy and missing promotions because of maternity leave or part-time work. The company claims that Project Genesis is all about equality and levelling the playing field for women. They are willing to pay Natalie a lot of money to have babies for executives, along with benefits, a fancy apartment, and time between pregnancies to relax. It seems like a small price to pay for an easy life, and Natalie signs on the dotted line.
Fallow is immensely readable. I rationalized staying up far too late on school nights just to read a few more chapters. The book takes a sharp turn in the third act that surprised me, but I see where Anderson was going with it.
Fallow has a lot to say about which parts of women's bodies society deems acceptable to sell, the commodification of motherhood, and the ways that the loss of benefits or a livable wage can force employees into difficult choices. Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC. Fallow comes out September 15th.
Corporate America is tired of women underperforming during pregnancy and missing promotions because of maternity leave or part-time work. The company claims that Project Genesis is all about equality and levelling the playing field for women. They are willing to pay Natalie a lot of money to have babies for executives, along with benefits, a fancy apartment, and time between pregnancies to relax. It seems like a small price to pay for an easy life, and Natalie signs on the dotted line.
Fallow is immensely readable. I rationalized staying up far too late on school nights just to read a few more chapters. The book takes a sharp turn in the third act that surprised me, but I see where Anderson was going with it.
Fallow has a lot to say about which parts of women's bodies society deems acceptable to sell, the commodification of motherhood, and the ways that the loss of benefits or a livable wage can force employees into difficult choices. Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the ARC. Fallow comes out September 15th.
Read
July 27, 2026This is women's fiction that is not quite satire and not quite horror, exploring the politics and ethics of surrogacy in a dystopian world paralleling our present, in which women try to “have it all” while coping with the world of capitalism with minimal safety net.
Natalie, our first person narrator, is deep in debt, has no idea what to do with her life, and doesn't seem motivated to try to find a path. Offered a lucrative contract to essentially rent out her womb for ten years, she grabs it, having babies for women high up in the corporate world so they don’t have to take time away from their careers.
The emotional demands of surrogacy get plenty of attention in the first half, as between pregnancies, or during the "fallow" times, Natalie recovers. But the second half wanders off into the weeds, satirizing a mostly-women's utopian farm, as the story mostly meanders off into the weeds, dropping the main thrust almost entirely.
That said, the author managed to hold my interest in a protagonist who is largely incurious about the world, and spends her free time getting drunk, stoned, etc, while never really connecting to anyone. Especially other women; she doesn't seem to like anyone, including herself. While I think this story is largely a first pancake I'm very interested in the writer, and want to see what she does next.
Natalie, our first person narrator, is deep in debt, has no idea what to do with her life, and doesn't seem motivated to try to find a path. Offered a lucrative contract to essentially rent out her womb for ten years, she grabs it, having babies for women high up in the corporate world so they don’t have to take time away from their careers.
The emotional demands of surrogacy get plenty of attention in the first half, as between pregnancies, or during the "fallow" times, Natalie recovers. But the second half wanders off into the weeds, satirizing a mostly-women's utopian farm, as the story mostly meanders off into the weeds, dropping the main thrust almost entirely.
That said, the author managed to hold my interest in a protagonist who is largely incurious about the world, and spends her free time getting drunk, stoned, etc, while never really connecting to anyone. Especially other women; she doesn't seem to like anyone, including herself. While I think this story is largely a first pancake I'm very interested in the writer, and want to see what she does next.
August 15, 2026
Wow. This was phenomenal. This was beyond thought provoking and engaging. When I read the description of this book, it felt dystopian, but reading it felt so real. Like it was already a part of every day life. Our main character Natalie feels so REAL and I love that about Sarah Anderson's writing. Is she deeply flawed? Yes. Is she unlikable at times? Also yes. But she is REAL. I felt like I could just reach out and touch her face while reading this. The prose is immersive and stunning. I also really appreciated the themes in this novel. Bodily autonomy, feminism, pregnancy, infertility, etc. The last few chapters of this book felt like a warm hug. I thoroughly enjoyed this and I will be getting a physical copy when it comes out. Thank you Netgalley.
July 24, 2026
what the hell did I just read??? very Severance plus "girl that just wants to have fun and not work"
I finished this book in two days. Concerning? yes. I had to know more about The Company and how this would all play out, which unfortunately didn't answer much. (no answers about The Company sperm???) This was a freaky, corporate surrogacy plot that I could totally see happening in present day with a major tech company. Especially the way it was highlighted as a feminist strategy, to preserve women in the workforce, seemed very modern and topical.
The last third of the book was pretty unexpected to me, but I liked the direction it took the character and how she evolved into realizing she must choose some form of work to survive, but not necessarily a capitalistic one.
A lot of ends were not really resolved, I wish the conflict with Phoebe and her family had a better resolution. Or we were given some five year epilogue or something? Very vague ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.
I finished this book in two days. Concerning? yes. I had to know more about The Company and how this would all play out, which unfortunately didn't answer much. (no answers about The Company sperm???) This was a freaky, corporate surrogacy plot that I could totally see happening in present day with a major tech company. Especially the way it was highlighted as a feminist strategy, to preserve women in the workforce, seemed very modern and topical.
The last third of the book was pretty unexpected to me, but I liked the direction it took the character and how she evolved into realizing she must choose some form of work to survive, but not necessarily a capitalistic one.
A lot of ends were not really resolved, I wish the conflict with Phoebe and her family had a better resolution. Or we were given some five year epilogue or something? Very vague ending.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.
August 2, 2026
Fallow felt like it was inspired by the Handmaids Tale with a corporate twist. And then there was a kidnapping (adultnapping?) and then there was a feminist commune???? And then it ended in the most boring way possible.
The more I think about this book the more I hate it. So no, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the chance to read the advanced digital copy.
The more I think about this book the more I hate it. So no, I wouldn’t recommend it.
Thanks to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the chance to read the advanced digital copy.
August 14, 2026
This was unbelievably good!!! Like Yesteryear but even better!! Made me laugh out loud so many times. Would give it 6 stars if I could
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy for review, I will be recommending this to everyone!!!!
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy for review, I will be recommending this to everyone!!!!
Read
August 28, 2026A woman becomes an in-house surrogate for a major corporation. Great concept and loved the voice. Very much a novel of two halves and the second half got a lil wacky for my tastes
July 24, 2026
OMG! Finally, a FMC like me, facing the burden of figuring out what to do with life when you truly just want to vibe out and not work under these 21st-century capitalist expectations.
The premise of this story is surrogacy, but really, it explores the sacrifices women make under economic pressure- our bodies, time, autonomy… even our sense of community.
It was a weirdly comforting feminist read, bc somehow I found myself romanticizing corporate surrogacy and commune living? So there’s that.
I would totally recommend this as a book club read AND I would love to see this turned into something on screen. Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for my first-ever ARC! It will always be one to remember.
The premise of this story is surrogacy, but really, it explores the sacrifices women make under economic pressure- our bodies, time, autonomy… even our sense of community.
It was a weirdly comforting feminist read, bc somehow I found myself romanticizing corporate surrogacy and commune living? So there’s that.
I would totally recommend this as a book club read AND I would love to see this turned into something on screen. Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for my first-ever ARC! It will always be one to remember.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I didn't know much about this book when I first started it, and it made for such an enjoyable reading experience! I think this is a great recommendation for those who like light dystopian, humorous reads with a twist.
We are following Natalie, a young woman entering the workforce for the first time, trying to navigate finding a job she enjoys and making money while doing it (relatable). After working at a call center for several years and falling on her luck, Natalie begins donating plasma for quick cash. There, she is told of an elusive opportunity at "The Company" with a significantly higher payout. The only catch? The job was a lot more, well... demanding. Natalie, in desperate need of dental insurance, becomes the Company's surrogate. Yes, you heard that right- an in-house surrogate. What could go wrong?
At first, the job seems great. For the first time in her life, Natalie is living a life of luxury: a beautiful condo, a personal fitness instructor, healthy food. But then, things take a turn.
It was so fun watching Natalie, someone I would describe as a truly morally gray character, make life-altering decisions and navigate the workforce. I absolutely devoured this. At no point could I put it down. I originally went into this book thinking it was for fans of "Severance" on Apple TV (hello, office ceiling on the cover with a farm animal? iykyk) and while the tone of this book is very different and lighter despite the heavy topics, I recommend it for fans!
Written very humorously, this is a book that I can see a lot of different types of readers picking up and enjoying! Be sure to keep an eye out for the release date, September 15, 2026!
Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
We are following Natalie, a young woman entering the workforce for the first time, trying to navigate finding a job she enjoys and making money while doing it (relatable). After working at a call center for several years and falling on her luck, Natalie begins donating plasma for quick cash. There, she is told of an elusive opportunity at "The Company" with a significantly higher payout. The only catch? The job was a lot more, well... demanding. Natalie, in desperate need of dental insurance, becomes the Company's surrogate. Yes, you heard that right- an in-house surrogate. What could go wrong?
At first, the job seems great. For the first time in her life, Natalie is living a life of luxury: a beautiful condo, a personal fitness instructor, healthy food. But then, things take a turn.
It was so fun watching Natalie, someone I would describe as a truly morally gray character, make life-altering decisions and navigate the workforce. I absolutely devoured this. At no point could I put it down. I originally went into this book thinking it was for fans of "Severance" on Apple TV (hello, office ceiling on the cover with a farm animal? iykyk) and while the tone of this book is very different and lighter despite the heavy topics, I recommend it for fans!
Written very humorously, this is a book that I can see a lot of different types of readers picking up and enjoying! Be sure to keep an eye out for the release date, September 15, 2026!
Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
“It’s always a strange thing, leaving the hospital without baby. It feels like I am recovering from a surgery, from the removal of something. A tumor, or my appendix.”
Is work just a work, even if your body is the tool you use to do it?!
What’s your price? How much would be too much?
In a way, the symbolic cow on the cover put me on the exact same wavelength as another well-known bestseller, expanding on the theme along parallel lines. So I was very excited to read this one.
On one hand, the book feels dystopian, yet entirely real.
A surrogate mother who gets compensated for her "labor"- though it all depends on which country and legal system we are talking about.
The author made the protagonist sharp-witted, blunt, and completely unfiltered, giving the novel a darkly sarcastic edge. Of course, it all comes down to your sense of humor; how funny or sadly philosophical you find this exploration is entirely subjective.
“We call them the two holes. The Labour hole and the Asshole.” (253.p.)
The main character is stuck in a dead-end job that doesn’t even offer dental insurance. Desperate for a way out of a critical financial situation, she crosses paths with a company that will provide Jackie with the cash she so desperately needs in exchange for carrying a pregnancy to term.
But is work really just work? At what point does it completely cross the line into your private life?
It’s a fantastic premise, and I was really looking forward to a journey that combined literary enjoyment with heavyweight questions. However, the plot and the flat, gray nature of the protagonist ended up stalling, failing to break out of its own narrow box.
3 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lv
Darbs ir tikai darbs, pat, ja tavs darba instruments ir tavs ķermenis?! Kāda ir tava cena?
Savā ziņā simboliskā govs uz vāka aizveda mani uz viena viļņa ar kādu citu bestselleru, tēmu paplašinot kādās paralēlajās līnijās. No vienas puses darbs ir distopisks un reizē reāls. Māte-surogāte, kas tiek atalgota par savu “darbu”, viss atkarīgs, par kuru valsti un likumdošanu mēs runājam.
Autore radījusi savu varoni asmēlīgu, tiešu, bez bremzēm, tādejādi iekrāsojot romānu tumši sarkastiskā noskaņā. Viss, protams, atkarīgs no humora izjūtas un tas jau ir individuāls jautājums, cik smieklīga vai skumji filosofiska ir šīs tēmas iztirzāšana.
Galvenā varone ir iestigusi savā briesmīgajā darbā, kurā viņai nav pat zobārstniecības apdrošināšana. Tāpēc, meklējot izeju kritiskam naudas trūkumam, viņa iepazīstas ar kompāniju, kas, apmaiņā pret bērnu iznēsāšanu, nodrošinās Džekiju ar tik nepieciešamo naudu. Un lielu naudu. Bet, vai darbs ir tikai darbs, kurā mirklī tas pārkāpj privātās dzīve robežu?!
Lieliska tēma, es ļoti gaidīju piedzīvojumu, kurā apvienots literārs baudījums ar svarīgiem jautājumiem. Tomēr romāna sižets un varones pelēkums buksēja un nespēja izkāpt laukā no ierobežotās kastes.
Is work just a work, even if your body is the tool you use to do it?!
What’s your price? How much would be too much?
In a way, the symbolic cow on the cover put me on the exact same wavelength as another well-known bestseller, expanding on the theme along parallel lines. So I was very excited to read this one.
On one hand, the book feels dystopian, yet entirely real.
A surrogate mother who gets compensated for her "labor"- though it all depends on which country and legal system we are talking about.
The author made the protagonist sharp-witted, blunt, and completely unfiltered, giving the novel a darkly sarcastic edge. Of course, it all comes down to your sense of humor; how funny or sadly philosophical you find this exploration is entirely subjective.
“We call them the two holes. The Labour hole and the Asshole.” (253.p.)
The main character is stuck in a dead-end job that doesn’t even offer dental insurance. Desperate for a way out of a critical financial situation, she crosses paths with a company that will provide Jackie with the cash she so desperately needs in exchange for carrying a pregnancy to term.
But is work really just work? At what point does it completely cross the line into your private life?
It’s a fantastic premise, and I was really looking forward to a journey that combined literary enjoyment with heavyweight questions. However, the plot and the flat, gray nature of the protagonist ended up stalling, failing to break out of its own narrow box.
3 ⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lv
Darbs ir tikai darbs, pat, ja tavs darba instruments ir tavs ķermenis?! Kāda ir tava cena?
Savā ziņā simboliskā govs uz vāka aizveda mani uz viena viļņa ar kādu citu bestselleru, tēmu paplašinot kādās paralēlajās līnijās. No vienas puses darbs ir distopisks un reizē reāls. Māte-surogāte, kas tiek atalgota par savu “darbu”, viss atkarīgs, par kuru valsti un likumdošanu mēs runājam.
Autore radījusi savu varoni asmēlīgu, tiešu, bez bremzēm, tādejādi iekrāsojot romānu tumši sarkastiskā noskaņā. Viss, protams, atkarīgs no humora izjūtas un tas jau ir individuāls jautājums, cik smieklīga vai skumji filosofiska ir šīs tēmas iztirzāšana.
Galvenā varone ir iestigusi savā briesmīgajā darbā, kurā viņai nav pat zobārstniecības apdrošināšana. Tāpēc, meklējot izeju kritiskam naudas trūkumam, viņa iepazīstas ar kompāniju, kas, apmaiņā pret bērnu iznēsāšanu, nodrošinās Džekiju ar tik nepieciešamo naudu. Un lielu naudu. Bet, vai darbs ir tikai darbs, kurā mirklī tas pārkāpj privātās dzīve robežu?!
Lieliska tēma, es ļoti gaidīju piedzīvojumu, kurā apvienots literārs baudījums ar svarīgiem jautājumiem. Tomēr romāna sižets un varones pelēkums buksēja un nespēja izkāpt laukā no ierobežotās kastes.
July 19, 2026
I raced through Fallow at a feverish pace. The writing was like a best friend telling you a juicy story over drinks and I was so thirsty for the details that I swallowed this book in one gigantic gulp.
Natalie is a perfect depiction of a gen-zer growing up in end stage capitalism where money is king and loyalties lie where the highest bidder is paying. This generation is so disillusioned by needing to make seemingly impossible sums of money just to scrape by, that it’s created its own rules for success. Natalie doesn’t know what she wants to do when she grows up, per se, but she does know that a lucrative offer to become a corporate surrogate sounds like a cushy temporary solution to her problems. Sure she might have to surrender her body to the company’s demands (eating well, sleeping plenty, yoga everyday, etc..) but for her it’s a perfectly acceptable trade off for the financial perks the job offers.
I loved every twist and turn this story offered and I swallowed down a hearty lump in my throat at the final scene of the novel, knowing so deeply the transition she was undertaking for herself. The themes of loneliness and of belonging and motherhood entwined so beautifully through the story. I keep thinking of the idea Anderson presents on the topic of work and love and how it translates and transmutes from the corporate world to the world she ultimately feels most at home in by the end.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this early. I will be telling everyone I know to get this into their hot little hands the moment it comes out in Sept!
Natalie is a perfect depiction of a gen-zer growing up in end stage capitalism where money is king and loyalties lie where the highest bidder is paying. This generation is so disillusioned by needing to make seemingly impossible sums of money just to scrape by, that it’s created its own rules for success. Natalie doesn’t know what she wants to do when she grows up, per se, but she does know that a lucrative offer to become a corporate surrogate sounds like a cushy temporary solution to her problems. Sure she might have to surrender her body to the company’s demands (eating well, sleeping plenty, yoga everyday, etc..) but for her it’s a perfectly acceptable trade off for the financial perks the job offers.
I loved every twist and turn this story offered and I swallowed down a hearty lump in my throat at the final scene of the novel, knowing so deeply the transition she was undertaking for herself. The themes of loneliness and of belonging and motherhood entwined so beautifully through the story. I keep thinking of the idea Anderson presents on the topic of work and love and how it translates and transmutes from the corporate world to the world she ultimately feels most at home in by the end.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this early. I will be telling everyone I know to get this into their hot little hands the moment it comes out in Sept!
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