The Farm is a place where women go to serve as surrogates for wealthy families while living in spa-like surroundings. They get paid well financial but is it worth it to give up your life for nine months? The women who go cannot leave the Farm and every move is monitored. Many of the women who go are immigrants with little choice on this difficult decision as they need money to support themselves. The book is told from multiple points of view and we get to know each of the characters a bit better this way.

This is a thought-provoking book- making you think about your own values and what you would do in similar situations. It also addresses race and equality. I do think it was a bit of a difficult read in that it made me think of books such as the Handmaid’s Tale and Vox and with the state of our world right now I feel like some of these “futuristic” concepts are almost too conceivable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

All the ingredients for a thrillingly provocative story are here, but ultimately this book misses the mark. Although the synopsis makes the titular Farm out to be a nefarious place with a seedy underbelly of secrets crying out to be unearthed, I didn't find the events and actions that take place on its campus to be all that shocking or horrific. The story is presented through four main perspectives of which I had varied interest in; I was most compelled by passages devoted to Jane, who I had genuine empathy for and whose journey I was invested in following. The story becomes fairly gripping about halfway through, fueled by its exciting unpredictability, yet comes to a disappointing conclusion with a meandering epilogue that leaves a bitter aftertaste.

The Farm is a place where women (especially immigrants) go to serve as surrogates for wealthy families while living in spa-like surroundings. These women are handsomely paid for their services making it a win-win for both parties.

Oh man this could have been such a great book.

If you dive into this book thinking you're getting a nightmarish Handmaid's Tale-ish take on a baby harvesting farm then you're going to be disappointed.

This is a story about class and privilege and the disparity between the high and low ends of the spectrum. The wealthy achieving their goals on the back of those less fortunate has always been the way in America and this story gives a unique take on that truth.

"....in America you only need to know how to make money. Money buys everything else."

After reading this book I feel like the author promised more than she delivered.

The entire book hints at some underlying evil going on at the farm yet nothing ever happens on that front. The Farm itself is pretty straightforward leaving the story to rest solely on the characters, namely the surrogates.

Aside from Jane, the main character, we don't learn a whole lot about the other surrogates, the wealthy parents-to-be or the people running the farm.

Although Joanne Ramos has written a book featuring a timely subject matter, her telling of the story falls flat on all fronts.


I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I felt this book was promising, but didn't deliver. I kept waiting for something to happen, but nothing really surprising did. It was however, overall a good story, I was just expecting more.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

There is a lot to love about this book - a great and timely premise, strong female characters that I cared about, and (maybe most appealing of all, for me) a noteworthy Handmaid’s Tale vibe. I found the setting very compelling and would have loved to have learned more about most of the characters and their journeys, so I’d welcome a sequel!

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel centers around a home for surrogate mothers. It is an interesting look at the difficult decisions some women have to make in order to earn a living.

2.5 stars. Seemed to ramble on and not really go anywhere. I kept waiting for some big, horrible secret about The Farm to revealed. But no.

Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines, is struggling to provide for her infant daughter, Amalia. On the recommendation of her cousin, Ate, Jane applies to Golden Oaks--a spa-like center for surrogates to spend their days in comfort and safety while waiting to birth babies for rich families. Believing that she is doing the best thing for her daughter, Jane leaves Amalia with Ate for the duration of her stay; at first, she misses her daughter, but then starts to grow concerned for Amalia's safety. This leads her, with the help of her friends, Lisa and Reagen, to take unexpected measures under the watchful eye of Golden Oak's coordinator, Mae.

This is an interesting look at surrogacy, class and lives of immigrants. In particular, I found it refreshing that there was a diverse characters list, both privileged and struggling. I find myself drawn to stories where there is repression of individual rights, and this fed into that. Unfortunately, this never really took off for me. I could empathize with Jane's desire to make a better life for her daughter; I could understand Ate's drive to succeed. The problem was that I didn't feel strongly about any of the characters' stories. For example, I wanted to feel rage at Mae, but my dislike just felt lukewarm. Maybe that was the point--to show that no one is completely good or evil? The epilogue definitely didn't feel realistic to me.

Overall, an interesting concept, but I think this would have done better with a dystopian spin (which for some reason I thought it had when I started reading it).

Thank-you to Joanne Ramos and Random House for the opportunity to preview this!

This book was thought provoking. A young Filipina woman, Jane, agrees to be a “Host”, a fancy word for surrogate. She has to agree to live at the “Farm” with other hosts who are also impregnated. Jane leaves her young daughter in the care of her cousin, who had suggested she consider doing this to begin with. Her Cousin, Ate (Evelyn) is also a scout for the owners of the farm, finding other young women to participate, for a fee of course. Jane and the other hosts are also paid a monthly fee and a bonus at the time of birth. There is quite a disparity between the hosts and the owners, who are very wealthy. Most hosts are immigrants and are doing this for the money. The farm provides all they need, food, medical attention, spa facilities, etc. Though it does not allow the hosts unsupervised visits with family. For Jane this becomes an issue when she has difficultly contacting her cousin. An interesting book, I would look forward to more from this author.

Nestled in New York’s Hudson Valley is a luxury retreat boasting every amenity: organic meals, personal fitness trainers, daily massages—and all of it for free. In fact, you’re paid big money to stay here—more than you’ve ever dreamed of. The catch? For nine months, you cannot leave the grounds, your movements are monitored, and you are cut off from your former life while you dedicate yourself to the task of producing the perfect baby. For someone else.

Jane, an immigrant from the Philippines, is in desperate search of a better future when she commits to being a “Host” at Golden Oaks—or the Farm, as residents call it. But now pregnant, fragile, consumed with worry for her family, Jane is determined to reconnect with her life outside. Yet she cannot leave the Farm or she will lose the life-changing fee she’ll receive on the delivery of her child.

A perfect title for a perfect book... This story will grab your heart and twist it until the very end. This "farm" is terrifying and unsettling, it makes you look at surrogacy in a different light.

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheFarm
Pub Date: 07 May 2019

Thank for the opportunity to review this book, I did not care for this book. I tried to get into it but I could not get past the first few chapters. it wasn't content it was writing style and was a personal preference.

This book started slowly and I almost stopped reading but I'm glad I kept going. The book is told through multiple character voices which is a popular narration style right now and it works well for this novel. The book tells the story of the director of a surrogacy resort, two of the surrogates, and a relative of one of the surrogates. While this book is marketed as a futuristic dystopian read, it feels strangely modern and I have no difficulty imagining this situation in our current society which is more than a little concerning. The book addressed numerous current social issues primarily the value and purpose of life as well as cultural and class conflict. The book made me think hard long into the night after I finished reading and I know I'll be internally grappling with the challenging conflicts the characters in the story face which are becoming the challenges our society is facing.

The only reason this is not a four star book is because the ending felt rushed and was rather unsettling to me. I felt like there should have been two to three more chapters between the final chapter and the epilogue.

I received an advance reader copy of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Golden Oaks is a spa retreat for surrogate mothers...clients spare no expense when it comes to keeping their surrogates healthy. Throughout this book, the narrative follows three surrogates, the manager of Golden Oaks, and a relative of one of the surrogates. I thought this book was thought-provoking and timely. I could totally see people wanting to control the environment of their surrogates so their embryos have an edge above others, even before birth. Joanne Ramos writes about privilege and socio-economic status in a really convincing way. I recommend this novel for book clubs, especially. Quite a lot to talk about while reading this one! Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for the free copy!

'Ate also understood that for parents such as these, who had everything and more, being unavailable made her more desirable.'

When you want a healthy, beautiful baby and you’re successful and far too busy to give birth yourself, the place to go to is Golden Oaks. Here, clients can rest assured that they have total control, a guarantee that the surrogate mother will not do anything to harm the unborn child. Only the healthiest young women are chosen to be inseminated and carry babies for the ‘richest, most important clients in the world’, and Mae (Ms. Yu) oversees it all. The Hosts are paid well once they deliver, where else can they make money this good? Certainly not as nannies, a thankless job! At Golden Oaks they go to classes to learn the ‘best-practices in pregnancy‘, their health is strictly monitored, they exercise and it is an absolute that the host must not be stressed out, ever! Jane Reyes has run out of choices to support her child after losing her job as a nanny. To leave her own baby (Amalia) with her cousin Ate, the very person who encouraged her to apply to be a host, isn’t ideal but it’s the only thing left to do. Amalia couldn’t be in better care, after all Ate is a baby nurse. As a Filipina woman, there is a class divide, when she isn’t watching (mothering) the children of wealthy white women, she is serving as a Host. She meets other Hosts while living at Golden Oaks, each with their own reasons for choosing to be surrogates.

The healthy food, the surroundings all seem wonderful at first, but then being so far away from Amalia begins to eat at her, especially when Ate starts ignoring her calls after a fight and the outside world is as distant as the moon. Strange that she is protecting this fetus like the most precious cargo on earth yet isn’t able to mother her own baby girl! Jane starts to fear things, suspect Ate of keeping her child from her, the other hosts aren’t helping any with their own thoughts about the place. Reagan is exactly what the most important clients want white, young, beautiful and a cum laude graduate of Duke University, the perfect host until something goes wrong that begs the question, just how much do the surrogate mothers and their health matter? Then there is Lisa, who ‘mocks the process’ and sees Golden Oaks ‘The Farm” for what it is, a place that uses the women as a means to an end. Young women who are nothing more than cows. But surely, you can’t be used if it was your choice, if you are being paid and lavishly cared for! Right?

Ms. Yu runs a tight ship, in many ways she relates to the Hosts but that doesn’t mean she will let anyone ruin the business. Clients call the shots, and often in direct conflict to the needs of their hosts, as happens with Jane. What happens when she is pressed to make a choice that goes against the rules? This novel is about the limitations of class, it is a different type of slavery that happens in this story. The ending made me mad but it’s exactly what would happen. People in power manipulate because they can, those without money, without power and desperate to care for their own family do what they must, because there aren’t any other choices. It is so hard for those who have everything to comprehend what it means to not have good choices, only bad and worse to pick from. It feels like a set up, because in so many ways it is! It’s all about sacrifice. Jane isn’t the only woman who learns about sacrifice, no one has suffered more than Ate herself. Ate has told Jane, always have a backup plan because nothing is guaranteed! Things go wrong, plans dissolve.

You get both sides of the coin at the end, what it feels like to rely so much on a ‘helper’ a ‘surrogate’ and what it means to be at the mercy of your clients charity. Who needs the other more? I feel far more sympathy for Jane. It’s a fast read, motherhood is often fraught with choices made out of fear and necessity, particularly for single mothers, more so for immigrants raising children alone. All mothers can relate though, even those of privilege.

Publication Date: May 7, 2019

Random House

Thank you for letting me read this one! It started off a little slow but really picked up for me. A surrogacy far for the ultra wealthy seems like a dream come true, what could do go wrong. The story line of following these 4 women hoping to make a better future for themselves. This one definitely kept my interest and I would recommend it to friends!

The Farm takes a close look at motherhood and what it means to carry a child. While a few people asked if it was like Handmaids Tale, no, this book is not at all like Handmaids Tale, but it is an interesting look at the choices women of different societal standings make and the challenge that motherhood presents to all types of people. I liked the characters and the plotline, this was a great read.

The Farm is a fictional story with a lot of truth in it. The story is set in the future. The Farm is a place where surrogate mothers go for nine months in order to get support and stay healthy. The concept is one that is absolutely plausible today. A place just like The Farm could open for business tomorrow, and surrogate mothers would flock to it for support. The story shows the future, but it's easy to see the present too. Told from different perspectives of women at The Farm, these multiple points of view fully immerse the reader into this world. Not every woman has the same experience. Some only work at The Farm. Each character is flawed, distinct and complex. Some are likeable, but others not so much. The real question is why does a woman choose to be a surrogate mother? Obviously, money is a motivator. What about race, religious beliefs, love or family? Many of these topics are addressed in the book. I think money is the biggest reason. The wealthy have choices, but the poor do not. It's a stark reminder of the exaggerated differences between social classes. As the story unfolds and the women tell their stories, some of these differences are brought to light. It's a fascinating thought provoking novel. The Farm is a well written diverse story of intrinsic motivations and how and why these drive a person to make one choice over another. I read it as fast as I could. I recommend for a great read! Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

“The Farm”... called “Golden Oaks”, is a surrogacy Farm. Women are impregnated with sperm to host a child. Most of the ‘host women’ are black Caribbean immigrant women. They need jobs - the money is good. The clients are wealthy and white.
It’s an intriguing story - but the writing often felt motionless and toneless. I kept wanted to add some Technicolor.

Jane, ( who left her own baby behind), Lisa, ( feisty rebel of the bunch), and Reagan are all hosts on the farm. Each went through intensive vetting before they were selected. Other main characters are Ate, ( too old to be a host mother- but had been a master Nanny Queen in her prime), and Mae. (Ms. Wealthy-bossy of ‘Golden Oaks)...
For nine months the host women are medically monitored. At the end of nine months - the infant gets handed over to the client whose embryo they carry.
The host women are offered many spa benefits - but also potential penalties.

Topic Themes explored are race, class, inequality, wealth, poverty, immigration, motherhood, trust, friendships, personal freedom, rules, sacrifice, self expression, exploitation, manipulation, childcare, big business, greed, fear and isolation, radical politics, and morality, with an all women dominated cast of characters.

The main female leads and the supporting females all have something to say. At times - there was not much difference between any of them, other than we knew who the HAVES and HAVE NOTS were.

I wanted to like this more than I did. The ending is weak and the epilogue just felt long and senseless.

At the same time - I honesty felt this book had potential.
‘The Farm’, itself.....had me thinking ( not particularly with all the stereotyping and the far-fetched scenarios)....but I do think it’s possible their are surrogacy home - retreats or otherwise. With integrity, these places could be a supportive environment for those serious about surrogacy.

Thank you Random House Publishing, Netgalley, and Joanne Ramos

I so badly wanted to like this, but I just couldn’t get into it. It was slow and I just didn’t care to keep reading once I started. I got sidetracked by other books numerous times.

I was provided with an advanced copy of The Farm in exchange for an honest review via Net Galley.

I enjoyed the way the author broke up each chapter by perspectives of the various characters.

I also really liked the concept of the story. It had several parts that reminded my of Handmaid’s Tale but it wasn’t as strict of a lifestyle for the Hosts.

There were certain key elements to the story but i felt that there was a lot of “filler” throughout the story which is why it took me a little longer to finish it.

I really didn’t care for the majority of the characters, I wasn’t really vested in any of them. Jane, Reagan and Ms. Yu were the only semi interesting characters.

That being said, if they turned this book into a movie I’d definitelt watch it as I think it would play better as a screenplay than a novel.