3.75 stars
This sweeping drama vividly captures the lives of three interconnected families, each navigating the cultural shifts and social upheavals of a pivotal moment in history. Daughtry weaves together themes of race, class, ambition, and change, creating a richly layered narrative that resonates deeply. Set in 1957 and centred around crop sharing on a tobacco farm, the story unfolds over the following decade.

Justin Price's audiobook narration is exceptional, infusing the story with life and emotion. His skilful performance kept me engaged from beginning to end, evoking a range of feelings as the characters' journeys unfolded. The emotional depth and authenticity he brings to each character not only enhanced my connection to the story but also made me feel deeply connected to the characters, making for an unforgettable listening experience.

The Talmadge Farm is a powerful exploration of a community grappling with transformation and resilience. I highly recommend it to those who appreciate historical dramas that delve into complex human dynamics against the backdrop of a changing society.

Thank you to NetGalley and Books Fluent for providing me with the audio-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had a little trouble getting into the book but once I did it held my attention. Not only was the storyline good with very believable characters, but it also told an important piece of social history. I lived in KY for a year and was exposed to many of the kinds of people and experiences Talmadge Farm is. Through the book, one learns so much about how the 60s were in the south and why desegregation was hard to implement. Anyone who appreciates and is interested in a piece of U.S. social history should read this book.

Set in the tobacco fields of North Carolina, this book begins in 1957 and tells the story of three farmers, the wealthy plantation owner Gordon Talmadge and his two sharecroppers (one black, one white) through the next ten years of social change in the United States.

Gordon Talmadge and his son believe they are entitled to their inherited wealth, without having to put forth a lot of effort toward maintaining it. His tenants bear the brunt of the work load. And, the Talmadges believe that old racial mores and standards won’t change. After Gordon Jr. attacks the daughter of one of the sharecroppers, things do change for all of the families. As the New South begins to emerge, Gordon and his family refuse to accept the changes. But life goes on, and changes happen.

Daughtry paints a poignant picture of how all three of the families endure misery and hope while coping with the advance of civil rights, and of civility.

Veteran narrator Justin Price seamlessly brings each character to life with their unique personalities.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction, especially those interested in changes in race relations in the United States.
Note: I listened to an audio ARC provided by NetGalley

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is story of three families in rural North Carolina in the 1950-60’s.
The Talmadges are the big landholders in their small town with 1800+ acres of corn, cattle and tobacco. Gordon is the big man, and rules everything from his land , to his bank from atop of his kingdom of privilege. Times are changing and he is resistant in every way. His wife Claire serves as a pretty background, but she does what she can to smooth the edges. Their sons Jr and David are as different as night and day. Junior every bit of his father- racist, drinking and doing what ever he pleases. David, thoughtful and studious is mostly forgotten by his father.
There are two share cropper families living on the farm- one black and one white.
The black family led by Ivy and her husband, have two children: studious Jake and joyful Elle. The white family: Will and his daughter Mary Grace.
There is an incident between two of the farms children that will send shock waves through the families changing them forever.

What I liked about the book- the time and place is well described and we can feel what it would be like to live there as a rich white person, a poor black person and a poor white person. The story moves along at a brisk place, never lingering too long on one storyline. Despite the drama and heavy tone, overall Its heartwarming about relationships, finding redemption and family. The author makes us feel for these people. The story kept me engaged.

What I wish was different - I wish the characters had a bitmore nuance- in this story villains are villains and the heros are saints. I like a bit more grey area in my characters stories. The years fly by and I mean fly. We get hints of something going on, eg Mary Grace’s wedding, but then they are suddenly back from the honeymoon. I have so many questions that that are unanswered. We get a lot of Gordon’s and Will’s perspective, but little of women’s. Would like to have seen more from them.
I listened to the audio version of the story, and really liked the narrators voice.
Overall, a very enjoyable read. Reccomend

Talmadge Farm AUDIO by Leo Daughtry was a trip back to the South when things were changing. Change is hard and the listener went through changes with a number of people, not the least of which was Gordon Talmadge, at the beginning around 40-45 years of age. Gordon came from several generations of tobacco growers and bankers and assumed life would go on the same as it had. He was wrong. He didn’t listen to those around him and when he did choose to listen, he listened to the wrong people. He drank too much and cheated on his wife. He had two sons, Junior and David, who were as different as different could be. This is the story of about ten years of his life when the change was upon him. His wife hung in, as good Southern wives do, and his sons went their own ways. I was a charming story which made the listener sit up and take notice. I was alive then, but for younger people, they are probably judging instead of listening with a sympathetic ear.

The characters in this book could be people who lived; many like them certainly did. It was a time of innovation, which Daughtry made clear, but also a time changing values. For those people caught between the old and the new, it could be hard. Daughtry did an amazing job of putting that conundrum on paper/audio, when he wrote this book. It is heart-breaking in many ways, and not just the obvious, but for those who are not able to change, and really shouldn’t have had to in many ways. A man brought to his knees, through his own fault, because of culture change is a sad thing. Daughtry showed it with grace and kindness. It was a terrific listen.

Justin Price narrated and did a credible job remaining neutral as bad things happened and life went downhill for Gordon. He was strong, and courageous in his portrait of this damaged, yet good man.

I was invited to listen to Talmadge Farm by Books Fluent. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BooksFluent #LeoDaughtry #Justin Price #TalmadgeFarm

Talmadge Farm is a sweeping historical saga filled with racial tension and family drama. The legacy of the Talmadges leaves its imprint for generations to come revealing consequences of past events. A portrait of the Old South morphing into the new South, Talmadge Farm is a good debut novel that will be enjoyed for generations. My thanks to the publisher for providing the audio version via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Taking place from the 1950’s -1970’s - mostly in North Carolina - we follow three families connected to Talmadge Farm — The Talmadge’s and that of two of his sharecroppers.

This is an extremely well written debut novel and piece of literary/ historical fiction— there are likeable and unlikable characters but en the end you can even feel sympathy for the characters you thought were unredeemable . The writing kept me turning the pages as we begin to feel we are on Talmadge farm and part of the characters lives as we see the fortunes of all three families change over time.


I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrators voicing of the characters as well as the his voice with southern accent was perfect and is a great storyteller. The narrator did a great job of really pulling you into the story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Books Fluent for this LRC . This is my honest review.

Talmadge Farm by Leo Daughtry

In. 1957, Gordon Talmadge leads a self absorbed lavish lifestyle in Eastern North Carolina. He owns a large tobacco farm with two sharecropper families, one black and one white.
A New South is on the horizon and Gordon struggles to hold on to all that he claims as his. This is an unforgettable drama of three families navigating changing times during a pivotable period in history. Their lives are intertwined closely. Desegregation is happening and tensions are high, along with the growing reassessment of the tobacco farms. There is controversy over smoking and the daunting management of farms implementing new farming processes.
This book has beautifully detailed settings, and the characters are wonderfully developed. You can just imagine that you are walking among the rows of tobacco and feel the summer heat. You can feel the pain, anger, and joy of the characters. The story is so beautiful and rich. The narrator, Justin Price, has rich voice perfect with a Southern dialect. The storytelling is mesmerizing. I really enjoyed this one!
I would like to Thank NetGalley and Books Fluent for the opportunity to review an ARC of this book.
5/5⭐️

This was a good book to listen to. I may suggest it to my students, but I won't use it I have suggested that my husband read or listen to this book. His interest is history and he has a very large farm with many different crops, animals and employees. The book kept my interest the whole way through. The narrator had the perfect voice to narrate this book.
I always request a book where the cover is enticing and this one is. I also thought the title was good.
This story may be a true story in sorts. Thank you for letting me listen.

Wonderful debut novel! The story flows well and there are some really great characters that I connected with. The narrator also did a great job and I'd highly recommend this book to everyone. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐️

Talmadge Farm is set in North Carolina, in the heartland of tobacco farming, in the mid 1950’s to mid 1960’s. It follows the wealthy landowning Talmadge family and the two families, the Sanders and Craddock’s, that sharecrop on their land.

It chronicles the dynamics of family and farming, through changing family life and challenging times.

This book/audiobook was extremely well written and narrated.

The plot is excellent. And there’s characters you’ll love and characters you’ll hate.

I was really surprised to find out this is the debut novel for this author. It seems very polished and a solid piece of writing for a first time author, bravo!

Thank you Books Fluent for allowing me to read and review Talmadge Farm by Leo Daughtry on NetGalley.

Published: 09/06/24

Narrator: Justin Price

Stars: 4

Enjoyed immensely the historical tobacco backdrop. There are suspicious tidbits appropriately dropped throughout the story that smoking is bad for your health. Is that the author taking liberties or historically factual? I didn't check. But, I appreciated them being added. It does bring the story medically to where we are presently.

The narration worked for me. Price complimented the writing beautifully.

I found Daughtry's debut work engrossing. The year is 1957 and the farm owner is prejudice. The story is unpleasant, sickening, and touching.

I recommend to mature historical fiction readers. This read so well for me, I would gift this in a basket with wine and nuts.

The narration was difficult at times for me. But the story was fantastic. I love a period slice-of-life. Especially one set in the south. This scratched itch for me.

Set in 1957, Daughtry does a wonderful job exploring the issues of sharecropping and the struggles which black families endured in a “post-slavery” south. I rarely see books that dive into these issues, and I thought it was brilliant to contrast the experiences of a white sharecropper with a black sharecropper working on the same plantation.

Landowner Gordon Talmadge must reckon with his stubbornness, clinging to the past while trying to bring his farm, and his family-owned bank, into a different world than the one his father inherited. His prejudices prove to be stumbling blocks for his family and for everyone they touch in the community.

The narration was excellently done by a single cast member whose voice expertly showcased the characters, especially Jake, son of the black sharecropper. I highly recommend this book as an audiobook, as I think it enhanced the story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

“Talmadge Farm” by Leo Daughtry and brilliantly narrated by Justin Price is the story of the Talmadge family and the two families who are sharecroppers on their tobacco farm in North Carolina. When the book opens in 1957, Gordon Talmadge is the patriarch of the family–his wife Claire and his sons, Junior and David. He runs his inherited tobacco farm (from a distance–the work is really carried out by a black family and a white family living on his property) and he is the president of a local bank founded by his father. When the story opens, Gordon is quite dislikeable and lacks empathy for all those around him–especially those who work for him. His oldest son, Junior is no better. When Junior tries to take advantage of the Black share croper’s daughter, she and her brother fight back. This results in a serious (and well deserved!) injury for Junior, forcing the brother to leave the town for fear for his own safety. Young black men were killed for far less back then. Over time, the fortunes of all three families change–some for the worse and some for the better.

I really enjoyed listening to this book and I would definitely want to read more by Leo Daughtry after this brilliant debut. Many thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher for an ARC of this incredible novel. My opinion is my own.

The setting is the 1950’s-1960’s in North Carolina, during the Vietnam era
Proctor Talmadge worked hard to establish the Talmadge Tobacco Farm; he wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. His grandson, Gordon Talmadge inherited the farm. He and his wife Clair and two sons, Junior and David, didn’t believe in getting their hands dirty, they were privileged white. Gordon has never cared much about what he considers the lower class: people that get their hands dirty, people that toil for a living, people like the sharecroppers that work his land. Gordon prances around the bank, his family owns. He ogles lustfully after his secretary and expects the whole town to be at his beck and call, following his command, after all he’s a Talmadge.
There are two sharecroppers, one is black, and one is white. Will and Louis do the hard, backbreaking work in the fields, raising the tobacco crop. Their pay is barely enough for their family to survive on. Ivy the wife of one of the sharecroppers is the maid for the Talmadge’s. The men and their families live on the farm in cabins that are not much more than a shack. The cold air blows through the cracks in the winter; barely keeping the temperature above freezing.
This is the story of relationships, how the characters interact with each other. There is a message of tolerance and love hidden within the pages of this book. There was a lot going on in the late 50’s and early 70’s, the world was shifting fast: Vietnam War, integration, agricultural science, sharecropping, the decrease in tobacco production. Faith plays a large role in this tale.
I received a free copy of this book for review purposes. My reviews are my personal opinion.

Thank you NetGalley & #BooksForward for the opportunity to listen to this novel.
I am always so happy when a "read now" in NetGalley turns out to be a great story.
I loved the writing style of ending a chapter abruptly then filling in the details in the next chapter.
The story moved quickly without a ton of details weighing it down.
I don't always visualize the setting and characters, but this book felt like watching a tv show.
I thought the author did a great job tackling the complexities of race relations of the time period and entitled white men.
Two things that made this story special for me personally,
1. My grandparents were tobacco farmers in Kansas into the early 70s, so I have fond memories of watching the process. My petite granny tying the leave to the poles for hanging and the other hard labor she did while also raising 5 kids and running a household. My grandpa working a full time foundry job and then farming after hours and weekends.
2. The narrator's accent is spot on to a dear friend that lives near the NC/VA line. I couldn't help but think of my old shipmate telling the story. I thought the performance was great.
I will be on the look out for future books from this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Books Fluent for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I can’t even put into words how much I loved this book. It took me a bit to get into it, I was very very confused at first when it started switching characters. I didn’t know them well enough to understand who was who and who they were related too but once I figured it out and got used to the writing style I fell in love with the story and the characters. I think for a book that wasn’t a series this is the most I’ve cried and that’s so embarrassing because I was listening to it at work, every 10 min I’m sure people were like WHATS HAPPENING?! I can’t recommend enough. Beautiful story.

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 5th November and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of December.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this audiobook.

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The story flowed well through the years, telling the saga of the Talmadge family and their sharecroppers, two families, one white, one black. The narrator gave it just enough flavor that you felt you were back in the late 50's/early 60's at the tobacco farm and in their small town in North Carolina. The main characters were well developed and fit the story well.

Gordon, the owner and patriarch of the Talmadge farm was bigoted and entitled, as rich white men of the south were in those days. He was also the president of the Farmers and Merchant Bank, which was founded by his father to support the local community. His wife, Clara, was seeing how he behaved as well as how his oldest son was taking after him, but remained a polite lady and did not say anything. His younger son was pretty much ignored and allowed to study and learn to play chess rather than be the drinking, carousing, football star that his brother was.

The sharecropper families were treated as employees by Gordon, but as friends by Clara. As time went on, these relationships played a large role in the telling of the story.

Times were changing and Gordon was not willing to have his bank keep up with the times. He refused to listen to the science saying smoking was bad for you and therefore his farm and his bank were in jeopardy of failing. He kept saying "boys will be boys" when his oldest son got into trouble, and was surprised when his younger son took an interest in the daughter of his sharecropper.

The second generation of the Talmadge family as well as those of the two sharecropper families managed to move foreword with the times, and Clara found her voice, leaving Gordon somewhat behind. The book had an expected ending, but it was not presented as an "I told you so" moment, but a good conclusion to the saga.

Talmadge Farm is a book that I wish I could give higher than a five star. The story, the characters, the many different themes explored from race to socioeconomic status to the changing in times and technology, society, humane treatment, families and relationships. It’s deeply written, well connected, extremely engaging book. Every character was excellently written, the book worked so well and wrapped up so satisfyingly.