Home to the Heart Country the perfec..., Libby Iriks
Home to the Heart Country the perfec..., Libby Iriks
List: $24.99 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.49

Home to the Heart Country: the perfect heartwarming romance debut for 2026, about belonging and neurodivergence, from a fresh new voice perfect for readers of Rachael Johns and Mandy Magro

Author: Libby Iriks

Narrator: Crystal Hegedis

Unabridged: 8 hr 13 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: HarperAudio

Published: 11/25/2025


Synopsis

A heartfelt small-town romance exploring themes of belonging, social anxiety and neurodivergence from a delightful new Australian voice. Perfect for readers of Rachael Johns and Mandy Magro.
ARRA Winner of Favourite Debut Romance Author of 2025She's in town to claim an inheritance - but will she be strong enough to claim her future?Beth dreams of putting down roots and finding a place to belong, and with a steady job in Townsville, she's on her way to achieving that dream. But when the cute little cottage she's rented for the past four years is put on the market, the stability she's always craved is threatened. News of a life-changing inheritance takes her across the country to a small town in Western Australia, where she discovers that the rundown old house her aunt left her might just be her saving grace. With plans to sell it so she can buy her beloved cottage, she hires Noah, a farmer-slash-wannabe-renovator, to help fix it up. But thanks to her self-preserving tendencies, she's otherwise determined to keep her distance from everyone in town.Despite her best efforts, Beth starts to form meaningful connections, and in Noah, she discovers a man who sees beyond her awkward shyness to the woman she is on the inside. Then, just as she finally feels at home in Karlup, she uncovers a shocking family truth that unravels her sense of identity and forces her to re-evaluate her biggest dreams and deepest desires.PRAISE:'Not only a wonderful love story but a moving story of discovery ... Libby Iriks's debut is refreshing and romantic.' Penelope Janu, author of The Summerfield Saddler

About Libby Iriks

Libby Iriks fell in love with story as an eight-year-old when her teacher read Charlotte's Web to the class. She developed a fondness for the romance genre soon after, and in 2018, combined her passions when she became a romance editor for a boutique publisher. Since receiving her autism diagnosis at the ripe old age of 42, she has come to understand that story and romance are her 'special interests'. Libby is currently studying her Master of Creative Writing at Edith Cowan University and, in her free time, coaches romance authors to write stories with heart. Home to the Heart Country is her debut novel. libbyiriks.comPhoto Credit: Kirsten Graham Photography


Reviews

Goodreads review by Karren on October 25, 2025

Townsville, Australia. Bethany Sullivan is content working for a building company and living in her cute rented cottage. When her mum Rosie was alive they never stayed in one place for long, so she’s upset when she discovers her landlord it selling and then out of the blue she receives a phone call.......more

Goodreads review by Anna on November 30, 2025

Absolutely got swept away in this gorgeous debut. I l don’t think I’ve read anything like it. I loved Beth, adore Noah and Ellie, really appreciated the craft group…I was just absolutely there for this finding yourself/ discovering your place in the world story. Love Home to the Heart Country and ca......more

Goodreads review by Claire Louisa on November 13, 2025

4.25 ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ Beth was immediately relatable as she sat in the lunchroom at work with no one to talk to, wondering what it was about her that seemed to put people off wanting to get to know her, while at the same time shying away from letting anyone in, still hoping one person would make an effort to co......more

Goodreads review by Janene on October 27, 2025

Debut novel from Libby Iriks is a fabulous read. A small town romance set in rural Australia, it was right up my alley. Her style of writing and her diverse characters make an interesting story of Beth who is neurodivergent. She suffers with social anxiety and this is a story of overcoming fears, fo......more

Goodreads review by Laura Black on November 23, 2025

Australian small-town romance with a tender heart. Beth leaves her lonely but organised life in Townsville when she inherits a cottage in Western Australia. Once she gets there, and even with her neurodiversity, Beth gains in confidence and navigates the town of Karlup with much more success than sh......more