This book was a bit of a mind fuck if i am being completely honest. What was real, what was fake? Rusty was chefs kiss. The whole book just kept throwing things my way that made me have to hit pause for a bit as there was almost too much going on.

The Farm is set within the Australian outback on the FMC partner's family farm, who had suggested a year's respite after the FMC suffers a health tragedy. (which honestly caught me off guard!). With eerie, psychological tones, this book is going to be an absolute favourite for many, but unfortunately, it was not for me. However, I know a lot of people will enjoy this one, so I will for sure be recommending it!

I am not putting The Farm away forever, and will 100% be purchasing and re-reading again in the future as it sounded right up my alley.

A gothic, eerie, mysterious psychological thriller with horror elements that will have you questioning so much.

Thanks for the ARC, Hachette Australia & New Zealand!🐕

THE FARM by Jessica Mansour-Nahra was more of a slow burn psychological thriller when I was expecting a bit more action, so I didn’t race through this as quickly as I would have perhaps otherwise. I felt the pacing seemed a little off in the middle and at times felt repetitive, but the ending was worth persevering for!

Following a miscarriage and a significant surgical procedure aimed to address her fertility difficulties, Leila takes a year off to recover, leaves her apartment in Coogee and resides with her partner James on his family’s isolated farm. What is meant to be a time of recovery and recuperation and a chance for Leila to write, turns into a sinister and unsettling time - is the farmhouse haunted? Is Leila just hallucinating as a result of an addiction to pain medication? Is James supporting or gaslighting her? We are left questioning Leila’s reliability and wondering what is real.

Overall this was an ambitious debut and a very creative way to delve into some big issues. It built a really uneasy and claustrophobic atmosphere and the writing of the Australian country landscape was also terrific. Just not sure the overall execution was flawless as such.

Haunting, lyrical, and deeply unsettling, The Farm delivers Australian gothic at its finest. After a devastating loss, Leila retreats to her partner’s remote family property seeking healing but what she finds is eerie silence, oppressive isolation, and growing unease.

Jessica Mansour-Nahra weaves psychological tension with sharp commentary on womanhood, race, and bodily autonomy. The novel explores the suffocating weight of grief, the societal pressure of motherhood, and the fear of not being believed, all against the backdrop of the vast, empty outback.

Leila’s descent is gripping, her questions chilling. Is she losing her mind, or uncovering something sinister? I couldn’t look away.

A bold, feminist debut that lingers like a shadow. Fans of The Yellow Wallpaper and The Handmaid’s Tale, this one’s for you.

3.25/5
Where to start with this one.... I suppose with the pre-publication hype. There were a lot of titles being thrown around willy nilly and what made me pick it up was "It's like 'Wuthering Heights' meets 'Gone Girl'" because what the f*ck?

I would disregard that comparison straight away - I can definitely see the 'Wuthering Heights' vibes, instead of the gloomy moors it is set on a cold, isolated farm in rural NSW but I do think we throw around 'Gone Girl' a bit haphazardly nowadays.

We follow Leila, suffering from infertility challenges and ongoing health dramas related to surgery and trauma. Surely it's a great idea to go and heal at her husband's family farm?

I liked the aspects of using the fertility cycle as the parts of the book and connected with the main character and her troubles despite not going through anything similar myself. I do, however, live on a rural farm with cattle and could connect with the everyday dramas of farm life and understand just how hard these properties can be to maintain.

However, the last 50 pages seemed like another book tacked on entirely, and it was so rushed when the pacing thus far had been slow and steady. It needed more time to evolve at the end than we received. So while I enjoyed it, it did very much feel like a debut that's been overhyped.

The Farm utilises the Australian gothic as the backdrop for a terrifying, psychological tale. Exploring the extremes of abundance and loss through the protagonist Leila, her partner James, his family and their dog Rusty, this novel offers a unique perspective on fertility, relationships and womanhood.

Some of my favourite parts of The Farm had elements of isolation that echoed ‘The Yellow Wallpaper’ and religious/social dynamics similar to ‘The Handmaids Tale’ although it was so engaging to see this through the lens of the Australian outback and a small town.

Whilst there may have been some sections that were slightly drawn out, I felt this had its place in mimicking the experiences the protagonist felt.

What a fantastic debut novel. Thank you so much to NetGalley for the early access.

The Farm by Jessica Mansour-Nahra is an outstanding debut from a new Aussie author! I was captivated by the writing and claustrophobic setting of The Farm, and while it more of a slow burn thriller, the author crafts a feeling of unease all the way through.

Synopsis: After suffering a pregnancy loss, Leila and her partner James move to James’s remote family home to allow Leila to recover. As strange things start happening around Leila, James tightens his grip on her and her reality.

Leila’s feelings of isolation and confinement throughout this book are mirrored expertly in the setting - the author beautifully describing how the vastness of the Australian country landscape can be counterintuitively stifling in its expanse. Despite the enormity of the space Leila is in, she’s simultaneously trapped and controlled by James’s will.

I loved this story and the author did well to tie up loose ends at the end. My only criticism would be that some sections in the middle became a little repetitive, but as this was also an important part of reflecting the monotony of Leila’s days, I can see why the author chose to do this.

Overall an amazing first novel from an author I’m excited to watch in the years to come!

4 ⭐️

Thank you to Hachette Australia & New Zealand for sending me a review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

An unsettling, Gothic thriller horror hybrid,  The Farm will propel you into a starkly vast and eerie Australian landscape full of atmospheric tension.

A successful, independent Sydneyite, Leila's life is irrevocably changed after a devastating health tragedy. In an attempt to aid her recovery, she agrees to spend a year with her partner, James, at his family home on an isolated farm in rural NSW.
Once there, Leila begins to hear strange sounds and experience unsettling visions. There is something sinister about the house.
Leila is battling with the claustrophobia of isolation and grief, whilst revisiting childhood trauma and worrying that she's losing her grip on reality. Is her medication to blame, as James suggests?

The slowly creeping sense of dread and psychological uncertainty, alongside the pertinent exploration of trauma, autonomy and control ensnared me; I devoured this book in a day.

Jessica Mansour-Nahra's compelling, layered debut novel is ideal if you enjoy slow burn horror, remote settings, erratic protagonists, incorporated sociological issues, and, utterly loveable doggo companions.

As there are some intense themes present in this book, I would recommend checking the content warnings before reading.

This was an insane suspense/ thriller especially for one for a debut author!
If you like
Midsommar
Gone Girl
Withering Heights

This one is for you!

A interesting take on woman’s bodies and who’s REALLY in control!
I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this author for sure!
Mind blown 🤯

I'm blown away by this book.
I don't think I've ever felt quite so compelled and horrified, engaged (in a good way) and disgusted. This book really makes you feel all the things, and it's brilliant.
It's not subtle in its stabs towards the treatment of women all over the world. It cuts right to the core of the feeling that all women have experienced at some point in our lives - that our bodies are not our own, that choices are being made for us, that so often we are seen as nothing but objects to be dictated, to create babies, to be secondary to men.
I love a book about feminine rage, and this has a quiet rage, simmering along the entire way.
Truly brilliant.
Be aware though, obviously this book covered some extremely dark and sensitive topics, so it won't be for everyone, but if you can handle it, please please please do!

The Farm - Jessica Mansour-Nahra

TW: miscarriage, fertility issues, DV, animal cruelty

Okay this was good! It was quite haunting & had me questioning my own sanity trying to work out what was real & what was imagination.
I was shook by how this story played out & I can’t wait to see what’s next from Mansour-Nahra.

The story follows Leila, who suffers a miscarriage & is informed she may have trouble falling pregnant. She under goes an operation before moving to her in-laws farm for a year off to recover.
Leila’s partner works in town, so she is left completely isolated on the farm every day. She’s self medicating, & dealing with trauma from her own childhood.
It’s not long before Leila starts hearing screams, smelling rotten smells & seeing faces begging her for help.
Is it Leila? Is it her medication? Or does the farm hold dark secrets.

Thankyou @netgalley & @hachette for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Welcome to The Farm, where the air is crisp, the sheep are fluffy, and the vibes are deeply, deeply off.

Leila, recovering from a health scare, trades city life for her boyfriend James’s ancestral farm out in rural NSW—idyllic, right? Except nothing says “relax and heal” like a house that creaks even when you’re standing still, a partner who’s getting sketchier by the day, and a dawning suspicion that you’re not the first woman to be “brought here to recover.”

This book is pure slow-burn suspense with a shot of feminist fury. It gives Rebecca in the outback, with a side of Shutter Island paranoia. Jessica Mansour-Nahra is not messing around—her prose is taut, the atmosphere thick enough to choke on, and the creeping sense of dread is delivered with surgical precision.

What makes The Farm especially juicy is how grounded it feels. The landscape is real (and deeply eerie), the relationship dynamics are all-too-familiar, and Leila’s slow awakening is equal parts chilling and empowering. You’re not just reading about a woman in danger—you’re watching her slowly, methodically put the pieces together.

Perfect for fans of The Last Thing to Burn or anyone who’s ever side-eyed their partner’s “family home in the country.”

I liked this book and it made me feel the things- It is definitely a page turner! I wanted it to be a little heavier on the back end of the story because I would've loved more details about all the creepiness. I HATED the mum so much and I think the characters have been so well written so would definitely be for a prequel.

Thanks for the ARC, Hachette Australia & New Zealand!

Content/ trigger warning: animal cruelty.
As an Australian horror reader, it is very rare that I come across anything both horror and with an Australian setting, as such I was delighted to Mansour-Nahra’s, The Farm.
Set in present-day New South Wales, Australia, we meet 37-year-old Leila, who, after suffering from a devastating health condition, moves with her partner to the secluded outback property that he grew up on in the hope that the peace and quiet will assist in her recovery.
Mansour-Nahra somehow describes the wide open spaces of Australia but makes them feel claustrophobic. She considers themes of female bodily autonomy, heritage, drug addiction and isolation.
Imagine Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca, but set on an Australian outback property, that’s the first half of this novel. The weird noises, blurring sightings, our main character questioning everything she senses. In the second half (I did feel like this story took a huge turn somewhere in the middle) the book seems to grow folk horror wings and descends into fertility-worshipping, cult madness, which is not a bad thing!
I really enjoyed this book, though it did lose a star as there were a few things that were not wrapped up or explained in the end.
Were they ghosts? Was his father involved? Did his mother go through the same thing to have him?
I will definately be writing an extended review of this book on my Substack closer to the publication date.

The Farm is a haunting and powerful debut that blends gothic horror with the eerie isolation of the Australian outback. After a miscarriage, Leila moves with her husband to his family’s remote farm, where unsettling events unfold and deeper themes of grief, race, and bodily autonomy emerge.

Mansour-Nahra’s writing is lyrical yet grounded, with a strong sense of atmosphere and creeping dread. While the pacing dips in the middle, the emotional depth and chilling twists keep you hooked. Disturbing, poignant, and uniquely Australian. The Farm is a gripping read worth your time.

This book got under my skin in the best (and most unsettling) way.

The Farm is a psychological thriller that doesn’t just play with your mind, it grabs hold of your body. There were moments reading this where I felt the tension viscerally: shallow breaths, tight chest, heart racing.

Jessica Mansour-Nahra explores female pain, fertility, and the terrifying loss of bodily autonomy with such precision and raw honesty that it’s impossible to look away.

It’s an uncomfortable read at times, yes. But brilliant. Unflinching. And beautifully written.

And then there’s Rusty. You’ll fall hard for this fiercely loyal companion, the epiphany of all we’re so lucky to experience in animals.

If you love layered psychological thrillers like Verity, add this to your list.

Leila: “I’m not feeling well, maybe a remote farm will help me heal.”
The farm: creaks ominously
Leila: “Perfect.”

This book is what happens when you mix slow-burn dread, questionable partners, and vibes so unsettling you start side-eyeing your own houseplants.

It’s easy to read, somewhat intense, and filled with the kind of quiet horror that sneaks up on you like a ghost in orthopedic slippers. I spent 30% of the book internally yelling “GO HOME.”

There aren’t wild twists or jump scares—it’s more like a slow spiral into what is even happening right now? The entire time everything felt just a bit off.

If I had to sum up this book in a few words it would be:
SLOW BURN HORROR

When Leila suffers a miscarriage and health tragedy, her and her husband move out to his parents farm, to get away for a bit.

But weird things seem to happen on the farm, and her husband keeps putting it down to her pain killers. But things don’t seem right…

AND BOY ARE THEY NOT! Anyway, I spent the whole book trying to bet on what was going on. And I kind of was on the right track but still, this book kept me guessing right until the end - in the best way possible, where I couldn’t put it down for the last 20%!

It is heavier in terms of the themes - around miscarriage and the mental and physical grief that follows, but it is brilliantly written.

🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Farm is a beautifully written debut that blended tension with the eerie isolation of the Australian outback. Leila’s journey through grief, identity, and unsettling mystery had me intrigued. The atmosphere is rich and haunting, and the themes in this book were are handled with care and depth. Please check trigger warnings prior to reading

Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette Australia & New Zealand for the gifted copy!

The Farm by @jessica_mansour_nahra_author is Kenneth Cook’s Wake in Fright meets Chloe Hooper’s The Engagement. (With a bit of Jane Eyre and The Handmaid’s Tale)

In a nutshell: Following a miscarriage, Leila and her partner James move to his family’s farm where they hope some time away from bustling city life will help her process her grief and allow them to try again. However life on the farm is anything but bucolic and Leila finds herself isolated and haunted by strange noises and visions. Is there something really going on? Or is it her medication playing with her mind?

The novel is divided into sections around the menstrual cycle, therefore the female body and reproduction are front and centre of the themes. It’s not body horror, but it has elements of body terror - fear, not of the jump-scare kind, but of the creeping anxiety kind.

While Leila questioned her sanity, I was right there being gaslit with her.

Jessica has a clear grasp on the gothic genre, and I loved the nod to Horace Walpole as Leila browsed the books in the farmhouse.

The Farm will be published on 26 August by @hachetteaus. Many thanks to @netgalley for the review copy.