The wealthy elite can offload the inconveniences of life by simply paying someone to do it for them – cooking, cleaning, driving, or in The Farm, carrying a baby for 9 months.

Nestled in Hudson Valley, Golden Oaks strives to change social norms and become the premiere baby farm. Scouts search the country for prime candidates to become surrogates for often-unknown wealthy clients. These hosts will spend the next nine months at a luxury resort in Upstate New York. However, the daily massages and gourmet meals come with a catch – they will be monitored 24/7, scrutinized daily by nurses and must give up their normal lives and relationships for the entirety of their stay.

Golden Oaks believes they offer financial opportunities for young women who are struggle to survive – often times preying on immigrants trying to support their families.

I was very intrigued by the premise of The Farm and was hoping for a blend of The Help and Nine Perfect Strangers. However, I don’t think Ramos ever decided on her ultimate resolution. The message of the story never became clear. Even after the final pages, I was not sure if Golden Oaks was an institution to be championed or condemned.

In the end, this book felt more like one long, slow, misunderstanding that had some interesting conflicts sprinkled along the way. Ramos’ lack of conviction made it hard to really feel moved – I never felt the fear, compassion, or confusion inherent in this emotionally and physically demanding scenario.

Verdict: Skip it. 2.5/5 Stars
Length: 324 pages
Quote: She added, less kindly, “Or you’re brainwashed. The Farm’s good at that.”

Buy The Farm by Joanne Ramos