I thought this was a good concept for a book, however I wasn't a huge fan of the writing style and that made it kind of hard to follow. I also wasn't a huge fan of the narration. Overall, I give this a 2.75 stars,

This was engrossing! I have this in my reread TBR. The audiobook was fantastic & I appreciated the historical fiction aspect of this.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my copy of Homestead by Melinda Moustakis Narrated by Ariel Blake in exchange for an honest review. It published February 28, 2023.
First off, the narration of this book was very well-done.
I found this to be very similar in feel the The Great Alone, although much less sensational. It definitely was more atmospheric, and left me thinking about it after the fact. I think if you're interested in homesteading in Alaska in the 1950's, this would be worth the listen or read.

The setting of this novel in Alaska plays the perfect backdrop to this tense and moving story. Set right around the time of Alaskan statehood, Lawrence’s fight to overcome his demons mirrors his attempts to tame the land as he carves out a place. I’d recommend this book for anyone who loves books set in Alaska, and caution a TW for folks that may have military trauma similar to Lawrence’s.

Homestead is a 1950s period piece about a newly wed couple who leap into marriage despite hardly knowing each other and are now tasked with making a new life for themselves in the wild frontier of Alaska. The premise is interesting enough and the prose is fine, but the story itself is painfully dull and uneventful. Hardly anything happens over the course of the novel and the characters, regardless of all their internal angst, don't grow much as people, resulting in an underwhelming conclusion. Despite being the centerpiece of the story, I didn't find myself rooting for our starring couple, but rather came away thinking that the protagonist would have been better off leaving her distant husband behind. And although Moustakis did a fair job of establishing Alaska's wild, wooded backdrop, Homestead failed to convey the unique flavor of a different era. All the pieces were there for a good story, but they were left to collect dust rather than combine to create something memorable.

This book gives no exposition. You are dumped into the characters POVs and forced to find your way out. I hate this approach and the characters all seem cold and traumatized. No thank you.

This is possibly the worst book I have ever read and I am not going to finish reading it. I only got 10% of the way in and I completely disliked every single sentence so I am bailing out now.

The book reads like a Wikipedia summary of someone’s life. There is no emotion whatsoever, just a listing of facts about where each character was born, who their relatives were, where they moved to, who they married, and where they worked.

I asked Netgalley for this free audio book ARC and they approved my request, in exchange for my unbiased review. Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio.

Gorgeous imagery, and interesting historical content!
This was more literary than expected and moved a little slow at times.

BOOK REVIEW: Homestead by Melinda Moustakis ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Audiobook Narration by Ariel Blake-- She is a great storyteller. Loved the texture and range of her voice.

Book Moods: Alaska, homesteading, marriage of opportunity, loss, strength, perseverance

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this advanced listen!! You can LISTEN NOW!! Released Feb. 28th!

I loved this very atmospheric book set in Alaska! The setting is so beautiful and rough. The storyline is interesting, intriguing, heartbreaking, and encouraging. Listening to the story of Marie and Lawrence trying to make it in their marriage and in homesteading is quite the journey.

Ever since reading Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone years ago, I’ve been obsessed with books set in the Alaskan wild. Homestead did not disappoint. Exquisite, powerful writing with well-developed characters in a gorgeous setting. My only critique is that I wish the story had a bit more tension, more climax. Definitely would love to read more from this author especially in the Alaskan landscape. The narrator Ariel Blake was easy to listening to.

Homestead, by Melinda Moustakis tells the story of two young people in Anchorage Al. They meet at a bar and are immediately attracted to each other. Within a few days they are married and prepare to move to Lawrence’s parcel of land. He had hoped the land would bring a kind of peace that the lower states didn’t give him. Marie, sees the opportunity to get her life in order. She doesn’t see much of a future for herself and this could be the answer. Once married and on the new land, problems arise for the newlyweds. The author does a good job at showing these problems in an honest way. They are normal issues and then specific issues that come from the time, the location and their immaturity. All of this of going on while Alaska is trying to become a state. Causing tension in Anchorage.. Can Lawrence and Marie, make things work? Can they have a successful, full life? Overall this was a good listen. Ariel Blake does an excellent job narrating. It was an original story and I liked the characters honesty. This was a four star listen for me. I would like to thank Netgalley, the author & Macmillan Audio for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to listen and review this story.

I believe Homestead would be an excellent supplemental reading list book for history of the United States. I was surprised by 150 acres of land compared to 160 in the area I grew up with in ND.
The style of chapters going by months was well planned. The marriage, the hardships, the tragic events intertwined in the beauty of the Alaskan countryside was appealing, but at times it was a slow pace.
Moustakis definitely did thorough research ( in my perspective) as toAlaska in the 1950's.
It was a worthwhile read as to the history and development of our 49th state.

This was a neat piece of historical fiction… definitely not a wrapped-up happy ending book, but it felt very raw. In the 1950s, Lawrence went to Alaska to start a homestead with 150 acres. He met Marie, and they got married the next day. The tale follows them as they learn each other, and make their home and life together. Wild animals, freezing cold, loss. It was a little slow at times, but I was glad that I stuck it out.

A compelling story of early America and its hardships. Interesting characters that kept my attention without too much over the top development.

Marie and Lawerence meet and are immediately drawn to each other. They marry within a few days of meeting. Marie wants land and Lawerence really wants a help mate. This is not actually the way to start off a marriage. Can they overcome and stay together through all the hardships Alaska homesteading has to offer?

Marie and Lawrence definitely had a rough go of it. They lived in an old bus for their first year, they lost a child and then there are so many secrets! Lawerence has a past he does not want to share and he does not want to put Marie’s name on his land. So, there are quite a few issues in their marriage. I did feel this plot is a little thin. I wanted a bit more to occur. But…I do I love this setting. This is what made this story for me. I loved reading about the landscape, the stars and of course, the bears!

I did enjoy this narrator. Ariel Blake did a wonderful job!

Need an atmospheric novel…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

This audiobook is a historical account of a couple settling into a homestead in rural Alaska in 1956. The couple experiences all kinds of issues, including the husband’s PTSD from serving in the military. I liked the narrator a lot but I found this to be a little slow at times. The descriptions of Alaska and the isolation were interesting, as was the family relationships, but there wasn’t a lot else going on.

After recently returning from my first trip to Alaska, I was thrilled to receive a NetGalley Arc of Homestead, a historical fiction novel about Homesteading in the 1950s.. Homesteading was a way people could obtain federal land virtually free if they met certain requirements, including living on the land and cultivating a portion of it. This is the story of Lawrence and Marie, who meet in 1956 and marry a few days later. Lawrence has claimed land in Alaska, but the work is hard and lonesome.

I really struggled getting into this novel; I'm unsure if it is the writing or the narration (as I received an audio copy, but I found it hard to connect with the characters in the story. I love a desperate and sad historical fiction (think "The Four Winds"), but this one fell flat for me.

Lawrence has moved to Alaska to homestead. He has claimed 150 acres in an agreement to clear, plant, and live on the land.
Marie is looking for a future and has agreed to marry Lawrence when she finds out that he has claimed 150 acres and that is all she knows about him.
Their relationship is not a romantic match more of a partnership in their goal of owning land and having a family.
Alaska is harsh and so are both of their lives. Lawrence is struggling with trauma from having been to war. Marie has her own struggles with marrying a man she does not know and who does not talk much. She also suffers from a miscarriage and goes into a deep depressive time period.
They must learn to get to know each other and to love each other while working the unforgiving land to earn the deed to their land.

This story is slow paced but i enjoyed listening. The author did a good job transporting me to 1950s Alaska. I found it very interesting how people were given land for free just by moving and living on the land and cultivating it.

I listened to an advanced copy of this audio book thanks to #netgalley and this is my honest review given voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to audibly read and review Homestead.

Published: 02/28/23
Narrator: Ariel Blake

Ariel Blake did a nice job as the narrator. She carried my interest for at least a third of the book.

Homestead started on page one for me. Step-by-step as the characters grew I was invested. The life changes, moves, and marriages all made sense. Alaska was the key to a better life and that made sense. Marie, the main character, had really no options where she was. At one point, she is told -- you don't have to marry the first man that asks. The reality was, she did.

Once Alaska became a state, the book changed. They were in territory Alaska, with con men, bears, and natural childbirth. I understood all those things and was fine with the story. But the author went too personal I think, and I lost interest in the outcome. Marie's husband wasn't likeable at any point for me, therefore approximately two-thirds in, I was shutting down and ready for the end.

It's a nice snowy or rainy day listen. Three stars: It wasn't bad and it wasn't great; it was okay.

With the description comparing this one to The Great Alone (which is my fav book ever), I knew I wanted to read this Alaskan homesteading book. Unfortunately, the writing style was clunky, and the characters were not very lovable. It was very hard to get into and took me a very long time to finish.