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The Family Farm
Isabelle Simpson longs to take over the family farm, but her ailing father won't give her a chance. The stand-off between them threatens to tear the family apart. Handsome neighbor Will Timmins holds the secret to building bridges between them, if Izzy can forgive him his past. Izzy is forced to make a tough decision—sacrifice an exciting new romance or relinquish her lifelong dream . . . But then unexpected tragedy falls on the farm, and Izzy is thrown the greatest challenge of all. As she gathers with family and friends by the shade of the gum-tree tavern, confessions are made, long-held secrets are revealed, and hearts are set free.
432 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2009
4 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Palmer
26 books314 followersBestselling rural author of books set in outback Western Australia. Small communities, farming, great aussie characters and mother nature. Also writes YA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
July 22, 2020
Am I the only person who felt extremely uncomfortable by the fact that there is non-consensual sex in this book and it's written as romantic?
Having sex within someone who drunk to the point that they don't remember having sex with someone isn't romantic, it's assault! And books like this make young people think that behaviour is okay and they're over reacting them it happens to them.
I'm boycotting all Fiona Palmer books moving forward.
Having sex within someone who drunk to the point that they don't remember having sex with someone isn't romantic, it's assault! And books like this make young people think that behaviour is okay and they're over reacting them it happens to them.
I'm boycotting all Fiona Palmer books moving forward.
April 20, 2010
I really, really wanted to like this book. The Family Farm’s blurb shows promise, but a slow plot and lacklustre romance make for a rather dull read.
I’m not sure what to say about this book, except that I was just so bored by the story and the characters. I think it’s partly Fiona Palmer’s writing style, which is a little more traditional than I prefer. If you like authors such as Anna Jacobs, this novel may certainly work for you; unfortunately, I don’t.
There’s something to Palmer’s story that could have turned out to be a great book, but I felt that lots of elements--character, plot, setting, dialogue--just didn’t come together tightly enough. There’s a lot of faff that don’t really go anywhere. I was disappointed by the romance, and the description of outback life left me underwhelmed.
Read my full review at Book Thingo.
I’m not sure what to say about this book, except that I was just so bored by the story and the characters. I think it’s partly Fiona Palmer’s writing style, which is a little more traditional than I prefer. If you like authors such as Anna Jacobs, this novel may certainly work for you; unfortunately, I don’t.
There’s something to Palmer’s story that could have turned out to be a great book, but I felt that lots of elements--character, plot, setting, dialogue--just didn’t come together tightly enough. There’s a lot of faff that don’t really go anywhere. I was disappointed by the romance, and the description of outback life left me underwhelmed.
Read my full review at Book Thingo.
March 26, 2022
Thanks Fiona. The Family Farm was a great read. Izzy is a strong willed person to stand her ground in wanting to run the family farm, the struggles she had with her father accepting that she is capable of doing it. I loved the support and love that Will showed Izzy through everything she was going through. It was a really beautiful story to remind us all that home is truly where the heart is. ❤️
August 15, 2024
Izzy Simpson wants nothing more to be a farmer and to work on the family farm. The only problem is her father won’t let her near it ever since the accidental death of her sister years before. Then a horrific accident leaves her father unable to work the farm and Izzy gets a chance to step up and show him what she can do.
I loved how real the context and environments of this story were thanks to the author’s background. The romance and family drama were a little cheesy but I enjoyed reading it overall, more than I expected I would.
I loved how real the context and environments of this story were thanks to the author’s background. The romance and family drama were a little cheesy but I enjoyed reading it overall, more than I expected I would.
June 9, 2019
A nice story and good read - similar storyline to others I've read in the past i.e., father won't hand farm down to daughter, she fights him all the way and then ends up running the farm after tragedy strikes. Of course she gets her man in the end as well :)
October 5, 2023
Go Izzy go. I like this novel
I don't normally read this type of stuff but the setting and descriptions were great
characters developed and it was easy to finish in a few days
might read more from Fiona Palmer
I don't normally read this type of stuff but the setting and descriptions were great
characters developed and it was easy to finish in a few days
might read more from Fiona Palmer
April 15, 2020
I smiled all the way through it. A great debut, will definitely read more of Fiona's stories if they are as good as this one
July 23, 2022
Another easy read, predictable ending
September 28, 2023
I really enjoyed it. Laughed a bit, cried a bit...the signs of a good book.
July 8, 2024
Great read love that it's Aussie
October 7, 2025
Started well, but finished as a very wordy story. I struggled to keep interested
June 30, 2012
Isabelle (Izzy) Simpson returns home to her family farm in WA with the hope of convincing her father to let her take over it, but he is quite adamant that a woman’s place is not working on the farm. The death of her older sister Claire, several years prior has caused a rift between Izzy and her father as he tries to protect her from harm, but in doing so holds her back from fulfilling her dreams.
Not only does she return to work with her stubborn father but she must also confront a long-standing grudge with her teenage crush, Will Timmins. The young bloke who has grown into a man in the years she’s been absent but in her eyes is still the flirtatious, careless mate she left behind. Living on adjacent properties they grew up together, Izzy as the younger sister tagalong while Claire and Will were best mates. Now she’s returned and Will realises she’s not that little kid sister anymore, but a grown, beautiful woman and he struggles to make sense of their past and present.
Izzy is strong-willed, hard-working and determined to make a life for herself on the land, whether her father agrees to it or not. When he is injured in a fire on the property and hospitalised for several weeks, Izzy takes the opportunity to prove to her father that she can run the farm all on her own- even though she’s a woman. Unknowingly he leaves Will in charge of the property which infuriates Izzy further and requires that they work together despite their differences.
A growing attraction between Will and Izzy challenges their beliefs about each other, the past and the chance of a future together. A string of events bring them together but the feud with her father ultimately drives them apart and Izzy runs away to start afresh, leaving behind Will to pick up the pieces of her fragile family.
I loved The Family Farm, Will and Izzy are great characters who have individual conflicts that make them vulnerable to deepening their newfound friendship into something more serious. Both are insecure in their own ways, fearful of losing their friendship and this gets in the way of them making any real headway and revealing their true feelings. Izzy is an admirable protagonist, with a clear vision about her future and isn’t willing to let anyone get in the way of it.
Another fantastic addition to the Australian rural romance genre. I’ve also read The Road Home by Fiona Palmer and enjoyed this too so I will be tracking down her other novel, Heart of Gold.
Not only does she return to work with her stubborn father but she must also confront a long-standing grudge with her teenage crush, Will Timmins. The young bloke who has grown into a man in the years she’s been absent but in her eyes is still the flirtatious, careless mate she left behind. Living on adjacent properties they grew up together, Izzy as the younger sister tagalong while Claire and Will were best mates. Now she’s returned and Will realises she’s not that little kid sister anymore, but a grown, beautiful woman and he struggles to make sense of their past and present.
Izzy is strong-willed, hard-working and determined to make a life for herself on the land, whether her father agrees to it or not. When he is injured in a fire on the property and hospitalised for several weeks, Izzy takes the opportunity to prove to her father that she can run the farm all on her own- even though she’s a woman. Unknowingly he leaves Will in charge of the property which infuriates Izzy further and requires that they work together despite their differences.
A growing attraction between Will and Izzy challenges their beliefs about each other, the past and the chance of a future together. A string of events bring them together but the feud with her father ultimately drives them apart and Izzy runs away to start afresh, leaving behind Will to pick up the pieces of her fragile family.
I loved The Family Farm, Will and Izzy are great characters who have individual conflicts that make them vulnerable to deepening their newfound friendship into something more serious. Both are insecure in their own ways, fearful of losing their friendship and this gets in the way of them making any real headway and revealing their true feelings. Izzy is an admirable protagonist, with a clear vision about her future and isn’t willing to let anyone get in the way of it.
Another fantastic addition to the Australian rural romance genre. I’ve also read The Road Home by Fiona Palmer and enjoyed this too so I will be tracking down her other novel, Heart of Gold.
August 31, 2015
A great slice of West Australian rural romance is The Family Farm, by farmer come author Fiona Palmer. The book follows the young and determined Izzy Simpson, who longs to take the reins of her family wheat farm but her stubborn Father refuses to even consider Izzy capable of running the farm. This sends Izzy packing and far away from the pain of the family farm and complicated love interest Will. Eventually, a tragedy brings Izzy back to the farm but can she find peace at home? The Family Farm is outback romance at its best, full of heartbreak, family drama, romance, loss and hope.
This is the second book I have read by Fiona Palmer and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Being West Australian like the author, I immediately felt a strong sense of connection to the book and the setting. There is a strong sense of place in The Family Farm. Palmer depicts the expanse and solidarity of the outback farming communities of the south west just perfectly. In addition, Palmer’s easygoing writing style had me immediately hooked into each character’s journey. There is a great set of both main and secondary characters to get to know in the book. What I enjoyed most about this book is the plot theme centered around a daughter wanting to take control of the family farm and the Father’s reservations on the matter. This is a very real theme and I liked the way in which this story thread was linked to a family tragedy and the love interest in the book.
The Family Farm highlights the author’s deep connection to the land and farming. It is a passionate book that will have the reader entertained from start to finish. Do not hesitate to pick this up if you appreciate a good outback yarn.
This is the second book I have read by Fiona Palmer and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Being West Australian like the author, I immediately felt a strong sense of connection to the book and the setting. There is a strong sense of place in The Family Farm. Palmer depicts the expanse and solidarity of the outback farming communities of the south west just perfectly. In addition, Palmer’s easygoing writing style had me immediately hooked into each character’s journey. There is a great set of both main and secondary characters to get to know in the book. What I enjoyed most about this book is the plot theme centered around a daughter wanting to take control of the family farm and the Father’s reservations on the matter. This is a very real theme and I liked the way in which this story thread was linked to a family tragedy and the love interest in the book.
The Family Farm highlights the author’s deep connection to the land and farming. It is a passionate book that will have the reader entertained from start to finish. Do not hesitate to pick this up if you appreciate a good outback yarn.
January 6, 2011
Izzy Simpson has always wanted to work on the family farm but because her sister Claire died while helping her father he won’t let her, so she left home to find work on someone else’s farm but now she is coming home and hoping that her father Bill will change his mind.
She finds their neighbor Will Timmins there helping her father and is instantly angry – she does not like Will because of something that he did to Claire before she died. When her father is in danger and Will saves him, Izzy changes her attitude towards Will and they become friends again.
Her father is still stubborn and will not allow her to work on the farm so in a anger she leaves home again and goes to work in a town miles away without telling anyone where she is. There she meets friends for life Blake & Simone MacDougall. Izzy is a bit of a hot head doing without thinking. When further tragedy befalls the farm Will goes looking for her and brings her home.
This book seems to be along the lines of a Rachel Treasure book but it does not quite hit the spot for me as Rachel’s books do. It was still a good read about life on the family farm.
She finds their neighbor Will Timmins there helping her father and is instantly angry – she does not like Will because of something that he did to Claire before she died. When her father is in danger and Will saves him, Izzy changes her attitude towards Will and they become friends again.
Her father is still stubborn and will not allow her to work on the farm so in a anger she leaves home again and goes to work in a town miles away without telling anyone where she is. There she meets friends for life Blake & Simone MacDougall. Izzy is a bit of a hot head doing without thinking. When further tragedy befalls the farm Will goes looking for her and brings her home.
This book seems to be along the lines of a Rachel Treasure book but it does not quite hit the spot for me as Rachel’s books do. It was still a good read about life on the family farm.
October 14, 2014
Yet another amazing book from Fiona Palmer.
So far I have read three of her five country themed books (with two more to go) and they have all been awesome, so beautifully detailed the landscape, the county, the farms right down to the fine art of farm work even.
I found "The Family Farm" very hard to put down to do my own work (thanks Fiona). These books are seriously addictive and Fiona's style of writing is just so easy to read and her characters so relatable. I even fell in love with Tom the dog.
I'm glad I've only got two more books to go because they are wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone who loves a leisurely read, you will find yourself fully ingrossed but I need to do housework :)
I loved Izzy, cried for Claire, stressed over Will, wanted to scream at her father, felt for her mother, and then Blake and Simo and Mickey came in, the book was fast paced, action packed and just beautifully written.
So far I have read three of her five country themed books (with two more to go) and they have all been awesome, so beautifully detailed the landscape, the county, the farms right down to the fine art of farm work even.
I found "The Family Farm" very hard to put down to do my own work (thanks Fiona). These books are seriously addictive and Fiona's style of writing is just so easy to read and her characters so relatable. I even fell in love with Tom the dog.
I'm glad I've only got two more books to go because they are wonderful and I HIGHLY recommend them to anyone who loves a leisurely read, you will find yourself fully ingrossed but I need to do housework :)
I loved Izzy, cried for Claire, stressed over Will, wanted to scream at her father, felt for her mother, and then Blake and Simo and Mickey came in, the book was fast paced, action packed and just beautifully written.
February 24, 2012
I found Fiona Palmer through reading another great Aussie authors work, Rachael Treasure. The Family Farm is a wonderful farm drama about a young girl trying to prove to her stubborn father that she is able to work as hard as any man doing farm work. Add in a bit of romantic tension and past mystery, and you have a great read. I can't wait for Fiona to bring out her next novel. If you like this style of writing also check out Rachael Treasure and Fleur McDonald.
February 21, 2014
Having grown up in Western Australia, I knew some of the places in this book. While I enjoyed the book I found that this was an example of someone trying to get as much Aussie slang and stereotypical phrasing into a book as possible. In the same vein as Rachael Treasure's books, but I found this one long winded and seemed to drag on and on in parts. Could easily be shortened into a more entertaining, faster paced book. Anyway, a light read that I enjoyed.
March 8, 2015
I realised I had read the book before some years ago, so it was good just to refresh myself with the story. Strong characters with issues covering grief, loss, sexuality and a father's attitude towards women's roles. Living n making a living of the land can be so absorbed by families that outsiders have no idea. Love kelpie dogs.
July 21, 2016
Another cliche filled Palmer book. I want to like these books, I really do. But maybe they are too close to home for me seeing I am a country girl myself. The Aussie slang just makes me cringe. Perhaps if I was a city girl on the other side of the world, I might find it interesting. But I just find these books boring and corny.
May 10, 2021
I enjoyed this book written by rural author Fiona Palmer about Izzy who longs to run the family farm but her father will not even consider it. The characterisation is very well created and I felt I knew the main characters very well. There is a love interest, sorrow, drama and misunderstandings within the story before the inevitable but satisfying conclusion.
June 4, 2010
Wonderfully cliched McLeod's Daughters romance. "The last thing she needed was male attention, especially from one as well-dressed as him. His Billabong surf shorts hugged his toned behind to perfection, his white dress shirt with silver detailed writing on the back brought out his deep tan..."
August 15, 2011
One of the best books i have ever read, stayed up till 3am to finish it
April 7, 2012
Slow starting, lots of description but from about a third of the way in it was pretty good.
Very Aussie!
Very Aussie!
June 7, 2012
great story about farm life
August 6, 2012
Loved this book
October 29, 2012
Loved it, wanted to know if they all lived happily ever after.
November 3, 2012
Second title I have read by this author and sought this one out after reading Heart of Gold. Enjoyed both, easy read, feel good books. Enjoy Fiona's writing style.
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May 16, 2013Loved It!!
September 9, 2013
Fantastic read, loved it. Hard to put it down!
January 5, 2014
I will never get sick of Fiona's novels. Capture me from the start until the end. Read it in 3 hours it was a very good read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews