📖 The Farmhouse - Chelsea Conradt ⭐️⭐️

The premise of this book had me hooked. A young couple moves to the middle of nowhere Nebraska for a fresh start. Soon things start seeming off for the wife, hearing music in the night, seeing ghosts, and unable to sleep because of it all. She begins to learn more about the history of the house and the family who lived there before.

Doesn’t that give you good horror vibes?? I was hoping for it but unfortunately was let down.

For a book with so much potential a lot of the writing fell flat for me. The inner monologue of the main character was a bit chaotic and I had a hard time following what exactly was going on at times.

While this book may not have been for me, it may be for you! If you’re looking for a thriller that’s not terribly scary this might work for you.

Thank you to @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for the copy of the ebook in exchange for my own opinions.

I love a good creepy thriller and this one was just that. The ominous feel and the story. I enjoyed reading it. Chelsea Conradt did an amazing job keeping me intrigued throughout the story

I went into The Farmhouse expecting a creepy, atmospheric read, and in that sense, it definitely delivered. The setting was rich with eerie vibes—the isolated farmhouse and that slow-building sense that something just isn’t right. I love stories that make me feel unsettled, and this one had some genuinely chilling moments!

The main character’s voice was engaging, and I could relate to her mix of curiosity and fear as she uncovered the truth about the house and its history. There were a few suspenseful twists that caught me off guard. That said, the pacing felt uneven at times. Some sections moved too slowly for me, so I found myself wishing the plot would speed up a bit. I also wanted a bit more depth from the supporting characters.

Still, The Farmhouse had enough intrigue to keep me reading, and I think readers who enjoy a more atmospheric, slow-burn novel will find it worthwhile. For me, it was good—but it didn’t quite stick the landing. Thank you, NetGalley!

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Farmhouse releases June 17, 2025

3.75

Six months after the death of her mother, Emily and her husband embark on a new chapter in their lives, moving from the bustling city of San Francisco, to a farmhouse in rural Nebraska.

As Emily familiarizes herself with her surroundings and settles into a new routine, she becomes determined to learn more about the troubled history of those that lived on the property before her.

With a stellar setting and expert navigation of an unreliable narrator, Conradt captures the unshakeable nature of grief and the myriad of ways in which grief presents itself.

While the pacing could’ve been better at times, overall, this was a solid debut.
I loved the ending and how it solidified the importance of listening to and believing women.

My review: https://www.mwgerard.com/accent-the-farmhouse/

After Emily’s mother dies, she and her husband decide it is time to finally leave the city and make a true life change. They both have good jobs that allow them to work remotely and the pressures of life have really taken a toll recently. It’s time for something completely different-a farmhouse in rural Nebraska.

Neither of them have any farming knowledge, but they won’t need it. It’s only the house and immediate yard that are for sale. The barns and the farm ground will still be managed by the original family, and they are promised they will hardly see them except for an occasional tractor going by.

Emily starts running again, allowing the clear blue midwestern sky and endless horizon envelop her. She starts to learn the dusty roads, rural scenes, and countryside sounds. But then little things stop making sense. She begins using her run tracker to check the distance from the house to the barn, and every time it changes-significantly. At night, she hears music coming from the barn hayloft but when she investigates no one is there. Then she hears the farmers talking about a young woman who disappeared. Voices whisper in her ear, warning her to hide. Whether it’s real or imagined, she sees her chance for a peaceful life slipping away.

The barn was outside my window. not looming in the distance. The haggard wood walls, the peeling paint, they were pressed against the glass pane above my kitchen sink. There was no sky. There was no garden. No sunlight. Only the decrepit edifice. Silence squeezed my skull. ~Loc. 2769

This is a much better than average thriller, with strong storytelling that holds together from beginning to end. The mystery is solid, her unraveling of it is realistic, and if one chooses to believe in spirits, their assistance is unwavering. It’s a creepy and compelling novel that I highly recommend.

My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press (Sourcebooks) for the early review copy. Read via NetGalley.

Publisher: ‎Poisoned Pen Press (June 17, 2025)
Language: ‎English
Paperback: ‎432 pages
ISBN-10: ‎1464229163

I was excited for this one. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I couldn't get into it like I hoped. I'm very appreciative for the opportunity to read this ARC.
I will not post a public review, because I don't feel that is fair since it was a DNF for me.

Thank you NetGalley and The Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC!
I would have loved this book if it kept on the same pace it began. I'm not sure how I keep getting sucked into books about grieving daughters, but it hits so many chords. I guess I'm a sucker for grief stricken characters.
The Farmhouse started out strong. I felt it had begun to strengthen a solid foundation. But somehow it fell off and didn't pick back up until 3/4 of the way finished. By then, I had it all figured out and was left feeling unfinished at the end of the book.
Three stars because I loved:
-the setting
-the characters (mostly)
-the initial height of conflict of the MC's relationship
I didn't love the obsession for coffee and constant discussion of sleep patterns. I felt it took away from great potential, and seemed to be page fillers for a majority of several chapters. There's also a great deal of upset stomach, indigestion, and vomit.

The synopsis had me wanting to read it immediately.
However, i had to put this read down. I did not enjoy the writing style. i had to reread sentences multiple times before they made sense to me and by 30% i decided to DNF. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt.

I enjoyed reading The Farmhouse. I thought it was well written and the pace kept me engaged. I was hooked from the beginning and wanted to know what secrets would be found on the farm.

The Farmhouse started extremely strong. The atmosphere was very eerie, the setting of the plot was incredibly interesting and Conradt’s writing really pulled me in. It was simple, yes, but it suited the tone of the story perfectly. Early on, everything felt like it was building toward something big. Unfortunately, that buildup never really paid off.

By the 30% mark, I was already losing interest. Not much had happened aside from the main character, Emily, sensing something was very off with her new property. I kept pushing through hoping things would pick up. While something finally did happen around the 80% mark, it wasn’t interesting enough to justify such a slow and repetitive lead-up.

The characters didn’t help much either. Emily was constantly relying on coffee and her internal conflict about her husband got old fast. Josh started out fine but quickly became frustrating, especially with how dismissive he was of Emily’s very valid concerns. Even with proof he kept brushing everything as part of her grief. The townspeople were very misogynistic and unwelcoming, particularly toward Emily. It felt like no one wanted to hear her which, in hindsight, was very much apart of the plot.

I didn’t end up DNFing this one because of the writing. The author clearly has a talent for setting a perfect eerie scene and creating tension and, even though The Farmhouse wasn’t for me, i’m curious to know about other projects she ends up writing in the future.

"Every woman who has lived on this farm has died. Emily just moved in.

When Emily Hauk's mother dies, it's time for her and her husband, Josh, to finally leave San Francisco. A farm in rural Nebraska is everything they want for a fresh start: clear skies, low costs, and distance from the grief back home.

They should have asked why the farm was for sale.

Three years ago, a teenage girl went missing from the farm. Soon after, the girl's mother mysteriously died. The deeper Emily digs, the more stories she finds of women with a connection to her new home who've met their own dark ends.

The farmhouse was meant to be Emily's fresh start, but with each passing day, her sanctuary slips further away. The barn seems to move throughout her property, as though chasing her. Her mother's favorite music drifts across the corn. She swears she saw blood in one of the farmhand's trucks. And the screams that wake her are not foxes, no matter how many times her husband says otherwise.

Despite Josh's skepticism, Emily feels the darkness that has seeped into the soil of her farm. And if she wants to claim this place as her own, she'll have to find the truth before whatever watches from the cornfield takes her too."

Oh, a barn on the move, like on Haven!

The Farmhouse has a wonderfully eerie premise—a grieving couple relocates from California to rural Nebraska, only for the wife to begin experiencing disturbing, unexplained phenomena. There are genuinely spooky moments that tap into classic haunted house horror.

However, the story fell flat for me. The pacing was very slow for most of the book. Most disappointing was the tired trope of the disbelieving husband, which added nothing meaningful to the plot and only served to frustrate and delay the story’s resolution. Emily started off vibrant and engaging, but her voice and personality diminished as the book progressed.

This novel had a lot of potential with its setting and supernatural elements, but the predictability and repetition held it back. The final act also felt rushed, leaving me wishing for a more balanced and emotionally grounded conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt.
The cover of this book is GORGEOUS and the synopsis had me wanting to read it immediately.
However, i had to put this read down.
I did not enjoy the writing style here. i had to reread sentences multiple times before they made sense to me and by 30% i decided to DNF.

i will not be posting a review of this read on any of my platforms.

Thank you again, Chelsea Condradt, Poisoned Pen Press, & Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 rounded up. Was this bad? Not by any means, the premise was actually quite interesting and I love a good mysterious backstory in my mysteries and thrillers. This was VERY atmospheric, which can be great, but for me, it was almost too much atmosphere and not enough everything else. It moved a bit slow. It was almost all psychological, and I was really scared there was going to be a cop out near the end, which thankfully there wasn’t. I just wasn’t shocked by this, and that’s what defines a good thriller for me. It was fun and twisted and creepy, but I feel as though too much was given away early on and it made all of the things revealed later on just…expected. Would I recommend it? If you’re looking for atmosphere and creepy vibes, 100%. If you want to be jaw-dropping shocked, maybe hold off

‘Man of clear logic deals with wayward hysterical wife’

Josh was an utter bore and very patronising, which frustrated me, but didn’t stop me from really enjoying this book. The idea of the barn moving intrigued me and I loved how practical Emily was in response to her situation. This book was slow placed and quiet at times, especially with the theme of grief, but it was also eerie and sinister when it needed to be. It also had a satisfying conclusion which I was pleased about.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Farmhouse is a horror/thriller where a woman buys a farmhouse in Nebraska to attempt to escape the grief of her mother's passing. Soon after moving in, Emily begins to notice bizarre occurrences with the barn like lights flickering, screams, and the barn somehow moving around the property. If Emily is to finally call the farmhouse her new home, she must uncover the dark secrets of the house and farm otherwise whatever is out there could target her next...

Right off the bat, this book is heavy with the main character, Emily, deeply affected by her mother's passing. She is so overwhelmed with the memories that she buys a farmhouse in Nebraska to try to leave behind her grief in San Francisco. The author really brings this grief to life and made the anecdotes between Emily and her mother very real and full of raw emotion. I have not lost a parent so I don't fully know what that is like, but my heart still hurt for Emily as she tries to not let the grief completely overwhelm her.

Unfortunately, this book falls heavy into the "husband doesn't believe wife" trope. Seriously, I am so sick of men never believing their wives. Why is this so common in horror? This literally starts to negatively impact their relationship because of how big of an issue this became throughout the novel. Ugh! It almost felt like Emily was just trying to get her husband to believe her more than actually trying to uncover the truth behind the dead wife of the previous farmhouse owner and his missing daughter. Emily also suffers from insomnia and drinks a decent amount so is this all real or happening in her head? Another very overused trope. Yay!

Not to mention, I felt this was very predictable. I guessed what would happen very early on. If this wasn't sent to me as an e-arc, I most likely would not have finished this. Or I would have skipped to the end to see if I was right or not.

The author also has some... odd word choices throughout. They aren't used incorrectly, but they certainly aren't used often so it kind of caught me off guard every time I'd come across it. Very minor annoyance of mine.

Overall, if you're looking for a horror/thriller that is a bit slow-paced and is full of "is this real" and "no one believes me" then give this a shot. It didn't work for me, but I am sure this would be a great book for someone else who likes slow-paced horror with elements of grief sprinkled in.

I give this a 2/5 stars. I didn't despise it and even found the ending satisfying, but not something I would ever read again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

I am a huge fan of "farm horror" and any type of spooky story with isolated vibes, so when I found Chelsea Conradt's The Farmhouse, I scrambled to get an ARC.
After the death of Emily's mother, she and her husband move to a large farm in Nebraska. While the endless cornfields, sunny skies, and quiet country life seems idyllic, Emily soon starts to see odd lights and hears music at night. Her barn also seems to change distance from the house. She quickly uncovers a cold case with her farm at its center.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. As someone who lives on a farm, I loved the setting, and as a runner, I was a huge fan of Emily's obsession with running (and coffee). The sense of isolation and its challenges was well-captured, and the eerie elements of the story were well written. This is definitely a slow burn paranormal thriller, and I did find the middle section to slow a bit more than I would have liked, but the plots speeds back up for its conclusion. I highly recommend this to fans of Simone St. James.
Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for review. I look forward to reading more by Conradt!

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a complimentary early release copy of The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt.

The Farmhouse is a slow paced but overall intriguing thriller novel. I liked the writing style, Chelsea Conradt does a really good job of keeping the story suspenseful and the tension at times was crazy. I liked Emily as a main character and the relationship dynamics between her and Josh were enjoyable to follow. The story itself constantly had me on edge and it was downright hard to put this book down sometimes because I wanted to know what was going on immediately! The eerie vibes of the story are written absolutely perfectly, I felt throughly creeped out and on edge during my time reading The Farmhouse.

I’m giving The Farmhouse a rating of 4.5 stars, overall this was an enjoyable story with lots of suspenseful moments and the creepy vibes are on point. I’m happy with the direction that the story went in. The vibes of the story is what carried this book for me, I enjoyed The Farmhouse and I think many will. This would be a good book to go completely blind into!

This book was such an immersive read , I couldn’t put it down . Once it got past its slow beginning and pace, it was so creepy and anxiety inducing in the best way possible. As frustrating as the gaslighting and dismissal was , I think the way the characters were written and portrayed was fitting . It had a classic— albeit predictable —horror movie vibe to it that I really enjoyed:) I didn’t expect how full fleshed Emily would be written and how real she was which I feel like I don’t see in most horror/thrillers . I usually stray away from the ones that take place and are centered in houses but I didn’t mind it in this one . So glad I picked it up❤️

Emily left California & came to Nebraska to get away from a death, but it turns out her new property has some lingering residents….

I really enjoyed the paranormal aspects of this spooky story! Emily gets put through ALL of the emotions as she embraces farm life while simultaneously being haunted by what had previously happened in San Francisco & on the ground she now calls home (on top of also trying to balance her relationship with her disbelieving husband, who hasn’t had anything strange happen to him at their new house & thus decides she’s just imagining things). I appreciated the way the Midwest landscape was shown, and though I would have liked a little more detail at the end I’m definitely going to read this author again!

Thank you to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.