At first glance, Joanne Ramos’ The Farm may seem like a predictable thriller about pregnancy. Two of the novel’s narrators—paid surrogates who live under lock and key at a well-appointed “gestational retreat” called Golden Oaks—are carrying babies of unknown parentage, unable to access their lives outside “the farm.” But instead of relying on easy villains in a story that quickly turns sinister, Ramos turns to three of the issues that divide America: race, class and immigration. Nuanced characters and a fast-paced narrative elevate a story that might otherwise feel weighed down by its themes.
Buy now: The Farm