A Far-flung Life: The unforgettable new novel and Sunday Times bestseller from the author of The Light Between Oceans

· Random House
8 reviews
Ebook
448
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

THE PHENOMENAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
By the multi-million-copy bestselling author of The Light Between Oceans

A breathtaking epic novel with an unforgettable cast, about resilience, family secrets and the enduring power of love.
_______
‘Epic' New York Times
'Utterly absorbing' Irish Times
Masterful’ Guardian
'Gripping’ Daily Express
'Intoxicating’ Good Housekeeping
'Completely sweeps you away’ BONNIE GARMUS, author of Lessons in Chemistry
_________
Love is the only thing we should never forget

The outback, 1958. On an ordinary day, on a lonely road, beneath an unending blue sky, husband and father Phil MacBride swerves too late. In seconds, his family's lives are shattered.

Lorna, his wife, will bear what comes next with unflinching maternal love. Because some things are better left unknown.

Matt, her youngest son, will carry the consequences of that day into adulthood, bound by loyalty, love and secrets that must be kept safe.

Bonnie, a stranger who arrives years later, could offer Matt the chance of a better future. But would happiness come at the cost of an innocent life?

A Far-flung Life is a sweeping, deeply moving novel about family, community, and the quiet heroism of those who guard our secrets.
__________

READERS ADORE A FAR-FLUNG LIFE:

*****It not only has fantastic characters, but the land is brought vividly to life... Engrossing
*****At times I laughed out loud, at times I cried. Unforgettable
*****This didn’t feel so much like reading a book as it did watching a family, up close and personal
*****Not enough stars for this one. Go read it
*****My book of the year – I will be surprised if another tops it.
*****As heartbreaking as it is heart warming

'Epic, intimate and aching. I loved it’ MIRANDA COWLEY HELLER, author of The Paper Palace
'I have so much love for these characters' FLORENCE KNAPP, author of The Names
'A gorgeous feast of a novel' RACHEL JOYCE, author of The Homemade God
'My read of the year so far' DAILY MAIL
‘Truly a masterpiece. The kind of book you will remember for the rest of your life’ JOANNA CANNON, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep

THE PHENOMENAL SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER By the multi-million-copy bestselling author of The Light Between Oceans A breathtaking epic novel with an unforgettable cast, about resilience, family secrets and the enduring power of love. _______ ‘Epic' New York Times 'Utterly absorbing' Irish Times Mast...

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Ratings and reviews

8 reviews
Jan Clarke
October 8, 2026
this book the writing took me to another place and just blew me away.
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Jo Dunn
November 2, 2026
unputdownable
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About the author

M L Stedman was born and raised in Western Australia and now lives in London. Her first novel, The Light Between Oceans, was a Sunday Times, New York Times and international bestseller and won the Goodreads Choice Best Historical Novel Award and the HWA Goldsboro Crown Debut. It was also longlisted for the Women’s Prize and the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, nominated for the International IMPAC Dublin literary award and shortlisted as an Amazon Rising Star. In Australia, it won the Indie Best Debut and the Indie Best Book awards and was longlisted for the Miles Franklin Award and the Literary Society Gold Medal. The Light Between Oceans has been published in around forty-five languages and has sold nearly five million copies worldwide. It was made into a Dreamworks film starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, produced by Heyday Films. A Far-flung Life is M L Stedman’s second novel, to be published worldwide.
M L Stedman was born and raised in Western Australia and now lives in London. Her first novel, The Light Between Oceans, was a Sunday Times, New York Times and international bestseller and won the Goodreads Choice Best Historical Novel Award and the HWA Goldsboro Crown Debut. It was also longlist...

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