New Release Book Review: The Farmer’s Friend by Fiona McArthur

This was a fabulous read full of complicated and wonderful characters trying to make the best of their lives in the small town of Featherwood.

Gracie and Jed are taking a massive chance and moving to the small town for a fresh start, buying a dilapidated store and house, pregnant with their first child, I really took my hat off to them for making such a big decision. Gracie and Jed were such wonderful characters, they both had a way about them that made everyone feel important. Opening the store gives the people of Featherwood renewed hope and somewhere to hang out. Jed isn’t good with money though and through wanting to help everyone, finds himself in trouble.

Nell is starting a new chapter of her life, a former midwife who dealt with a terrible situation and no longer practices, starts off in the little town by trying to keep herself to herself, but Gracie and the other town members won’t allow this to happen and she is slowly drawn into being part of the community, joining the volunteer fire brigade and making friends.

Liam, who has fought in Afghanistan, is struggling with his own demons, but the town of Featherstone, along with a connection with Nell, will hopefully lead to his healing.

There are some wonderful characters in this novel, Mavis and her grandson, Molly, Blue, all of them make up the sort of community I would love to live in.

The townspeople of Featherstone are in the midst of a drought, people are walking off their farms, and those that don’t are struggling to stay afloat, but the community spirit is strong which is what will be needed when a terrible bush-fire threatens everything they own as well as the lives of those they love.

I think this has to be my favourite Fiona McArthur novel yet, the characters and the setting were so wonderfully written and I struggled along with them in their lives hoping everything would turn out ok.

Thanks to the author and Penguin Australia for a copy of this novel in return for an honest review.