Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this story about love and heartbreak with a twist of mystery. The end of this story is truly unexpected.

I can't say why but I just had such high hopes for this one. Ever since I saw the cover I just felt like there was going to be something special about this one. I can happily say that this was absolutely true. It's not quite a perfect five star new favorite for me. I felt that the pacing was a bit off in places, too slow at times and too fast in others, as well as wanting a little more balance between timelines in the flow of the chapters. But I really fell in love with the characters and the setting, I was hooked into the mystery and suspense of the plot. This was such a fantastic story. It felt so real while reading it. I still feel like these people actually existed. Highly recommend! This one is going to be on so many favorites lists this year! A beautiful story with beautiful writing.

Beth and Frank have a loving relationship and they own and run a sheep farm with Frank's younger brother Jimmy whom Beth adores. One day a strange dog runs onto the farm and attacks the sheep and Jimmy had not choices but to put the dog down when a young boy runs up to them screaming and crying "You shot my dog" over and over. Beth runs over to care for the boy when his father walks up and Beth realized it's none other than Gabriel, her teenage love of her life that she spent the most romantic and passionate summer of her lifetime. They thought they were soul mates during that time and Beth has never gotten over Gabe but she never thought she would see him again since he happened to become one of the most well-known novelists of the 1960's. What happened to this couple when they were teenagers and what will happen when Beth learns Gabriel lives less than several minutes walking distance from her farm and what about Frank, the most gentle, loving, patient man who may have ever walked this earth! Frank has endured many storms in his lifetime but will he be able to weather this tornado which is about to be unleashed on him without the security of having a shelter to protect his heart and soul.


This story has wonderful dual timelines that stem from the years 1955 -1968 .and will carry the reader on a passionate journey revolving around a love triangle. The writing was beautiful with colorful but not overdone descriptions of the picturesque English countryside and the small country village where everyone knows everything about their neighbors so there aren't many secrets that are able to be kept hidden. Unbelievably good character development without the feeling of being bogged down so the story flows wonderfully from each timeline so the reader won't get lost or confused.
The prelude about who was shot, why and who did it will carry through to the end with some heart wrenching court scenes as well. This novel had so many emotional. components, since every character came with their own set of history or baggage. For myself the realism of the storytelling is what drew me in and I could visualize everything as if this story was a movie playing in front of me. There was so much love and passion from these flawed characters that many readers will relate to it especially if they had ever experienced such strong feelings of being in love and the pain of relationships abruptly coming to an end.

'Claire Leslie Hall' wrote a magnificent novel of love, loss, grief, forgiveness and misunderstandings. The atmospheric beauty of the scenery and village was breathtaking at times and it was wonderful to read a story taking place in these older decades where the author depicted lives being lived in a time so alien to our past twenty to thirty years with all of modern technologies and home and public conveniences yet it was so easy to picture what life might have been like in those days. Superb writing and storytelling. This novel " BROKEN COUNTRY " may be unforgettable for many of us especially if the reader allows themselves to be carried away on the waves of emotion within the writing without harboring harsh judgements towards any of the characters actions. Mistakes will be made, relationships tested, pain and suffering will be felt and remember there will always be consequences for actions whether right or wrong. This is not the genre of book I would normally read so I most strongly recommend this novel to all readers and I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from this talented author.

I want to thank the publisher 'SIMON & SCHUSTER' and for the opportunity to read this digital copy and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given a rating of 4 1/2 STUNNING AND HEARTFELT 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!

LOTS of melodrama. It's a propulsive read. It's marketed as a mystery and thriller but it's not. There's some suspense. This is a story about a love triangle.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this one, but am very happy that I was chosen to receive an ARC from the publisher. This novel of family drama is exceptionally well-written and I was so captivated that I read it in less than a day. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to hear the verdict of the jury, and was utterly captivated by the entire story. I loved it and highly recommend it.

Wow. This book. You know when you finish a book, and you just sort of sink into the pillows of the couch with a blanket and sit and try to make sense of what you just read and how you feel about it. Then somebody comes home and walks right past you, and panics that you're not there because you've become one with the couch?

Yeah. This is one of those. It did have a bit of a slow start for me, but once I got into it I couldn't stop reading. It didn't matter exactly what the twists were, if you guessed things ahead of time. Even if you thought you knew where this story was heading, the way it unfolded... beautifully written, feelings and emotions that seem subtle and containable until you realize they have you in a chokehold.

Definitely made me cry. Caused quite a bit of distress. Oh my gosh, this book. I want to hear what other people think about it, if they can find answers where I can't, or if they're sitting with this book the same way I am.

I really loved Broken Country! It mixes mystery and romance—my two favorite genres—so I was hooked right away. The writing was stunning: vivid, emotional, and super engaging without feeling overdone. I flew through it because I just had to see how everything would play out.

Some of the twists were a bit predictable, and honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if it were a little longer—there were parts I wanted more of, especially the trial portion. But even with that, I really enjoyed the overall vibe and would totally recommend it if you're into stories that are both suspenseful and heartfelt.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC!

Everyone loved this one, and while I didn’t feel the same, I understand why I’m in the minority opinion. Some books are just better for you at different times in your life.

Had I read this during my Nicholas Sparks-reading, The Notebook-loving days, then yes, I’d be into a romance where a love triangle is at its center.

But now, the simplest of miscommunications led to so many heartbreaks, and for what? To string people along and use them to your advantage, and call it love? No, thank you – I’m no longer in a place where love triangles are romanticized.

Be an adult. Make a decision.

My heart goes out to Frank, who was my favorite character, and all my boo-hiss feelings go toward Beth, who is problematic in so many ways.

Also, there are plot twists that have been done so many times before. However, it was smart to do a multiple POV timeline, but ultimately, this would’ve been better suited for a younger version of myself when my view of this type of starry-eyed romance would’ve been more aligned with the popular take on this book.

You know from the first page of this novel that something really bad has happened and it will affect many people. The author slowly reveals through several timelines how a farmer is dead, what led to the death and how the past can have unintended powers over the current time.
The setting for BROKEN COUNTRY is Dorset, a rather isolated area of England from about 1955 to 1969. Beth and her husband Frank raise sheep with David, Frank's father and Jimmy, Frank's younger brother. Beth had dreamed in her younger days of going to Oxford. Her parents were teachers and encouraged her. For a variety of reasons that dream never came true. Beth is content in her life now even after suffering a terrible loss.
I am not adding spoilers since the pivotal episode is printed on the cover flap. A dog comes running out of nowhere and kills several lambs. Jimmy gets a rifle and shoots the dog to prevent more killings. A young boy runs up and yells at Jimmy, "You killed my dog". Not far behind the boy comes his father, Gabriel. Beth is shocked to see Gabriel after the many years he's been gone. They had a summer of passion and love when they were teenagers, Miscommunications and Gabriel's mother tore them apart.
As the novel weaves between different times and events there are many twists and turns worthy of a modern thriller. As secrets become unraveled, you realizes things are never what they seem and consequences can have dire repercussions. Love is explored on many levels. Can you ever truly let go of the first love you experienced?
I read this for my April B&N book club. We all loved it. This edition had a letter in the front from the author to the reader. It's impressive how much research she did; even birthing a lamb. The discussion questions in the back helped our group to pull out parts that resonated and question choices made.
I earlier received a digital ARC thanks to NetGalley. Thanks to the author and Simon & Schuster (my favorite publisher) for giving me the opportunity to read and review this fabulous novel.

Through the years we make choices, Gabriel, Beth through teenage love do start a chain of events. Loved this book! Our library has purchased this novel. A patron even recommended it to me..Easy to follow , Frank was who I loved..

I absolutely loved this book, once I started it I couldn’t stop reading. I’ve never read anything by this Author but I can’t wait to read something else! Bravo!

Oof. This one was apparently not for me.

I found it melodramatic, I didn’t like the characters and a couple of times they made me want to throw the book at the wall.

And the big reveal near the end just made me roll my eyes hard.

I am a party pooper here, I know, but I was just not into it.

BROKEN COUNTRY is such an unforgettable story that is not only beautiful but heartbreaking.

Beth and Frank have a good marriage but it is forever changed when her first love moves back to town and events happen that will alter the course of their lives forever.

This book weaves in mystery, romance, and drama into one unforgettable story. The pacing is a bit slower than I’d like, but I wanted so badly to know what happened and how this would all end.

While I really enjoyed this book I couldn’t give it 5 stars because of some of the decisions made by Beth that I just couldn’t get past but I did love Frank and all that he sacrificed for his family. This book had me emotionally invested from start to finish as it beautifully captures the power of family and what lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.

Was I crying tears at the end? Yes. Was I also hugging it? Yes. Essentially, a story about a love triangle and the way choices reverberate in unexpected ways, throughout life. Characters with flaws, yet endearing and an emotional rollercoaster plot. Lots of layers, but enjoyed letting the author peel them slowly, giving enough info each chapter. The book is so well written- going to be in my top 5 for 2025.

I often find myself an outlier when everyone else seems to rave about a book but not in this case. Broken Country is beautifully written and will keep you engaged from page one. This is a story of many kinds of love and acceptance. It’s about being comfortable in the life you’ve chosen or the life that has chosen you. There’s heartbreak, sadness, loss and grief. Through it all comes a day when you acknowledge where you find peace and happiness. This ARC was provided by Simon & Shuster publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can safely say (even though it is only March) that this will land on my top books of the year list.

Broken Country is mix of literary "thriller" and love story, but what truly sets it apart is its emotional depth. Clare Leslie Hall weaves a gripping tale of impossible choices, heartbreak, and consequences that kept me hooked from start to finish despite questioning whether I was in the mood to start a book set in the 1960s.

Love trianges are not my thing in romances, but the characters and writing make this story unforgettable. From the start, we know someone has been killed, but the mystery of who, and how, unfolds in a way that is both riveting and deeply moving.

As an added bonus the setting feels like a character itself, with vivid depictions of farm life that add depth and atmosphere.

Broken Country is a must-read that will stick with me.

I went into this not knowing anything about it other than a suspected love triangle based on the synopsis. It’s a different book than I expected, but I hadn’t read reviews and didn’t pay attention to the marketing. Turns out, it’s probably best I didn’t. This book is being marketed as, “the most addictive love story of the year,” “a sweeping love story,” and “a novel of simmering passion.” This is not at all the book I read, it really isn’t. The author says she was influenced by Atonement and the publisher says it’s perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, this comparison rings much more true to me.

I think the draw of this story is the twists and turns it takes so I don't want to talk about plot details but I will say there’s a love triangle, explosive consequences, and while I wouldn’t expect a passionate romance, I would describe Broken Country as something of a love story with the heart of a suspense novel and twists of a thriller. It’s also historical fiction (something else I didn’t realize going in) set in the 50/60s British countryside. It took me a minute to settle into the story, by about 30% I was well oriented and eager to see where the story went. This book will best suit readers who appreciate twists and turns.

I really loved Broken Country. I couldn't put it down! It was such an emotional and thrilling read. It was such a fun ride to try to put everything together and figure out what happened. It would be a fun book club read as this book would generate some good discussions.

This isn't the type of book I usually pick up, but I'm so glad I did! This book was the definition of a page turner. Every chapter I would think to myself...just one more and then I ended up finishing it in less than two days. I can totally see why everyone is comping this to Where the Crawdad Sings. The trial element interspersed with the time jumps made it feel like a similar experience to reading Crawdad. I love the flawed characters and my heart broke while reading this book more than once. Something about this book really captures a certain vulnerability and frailty in human nature, but also a resilience and understanding of who these characters were and what they were willing to do. I don't want to say too much about the plot because it really is a book that unfolds in really interesting ways. I'm not going to lie, there are a lot of twists and turns this book takes and while some of them I did guess, I did open mouth gasp at one point.

I can totally see why this book is popular with book clubs and why it already has a tv/movie adaption in the works. The story of Beth, her husband Franky, her past love Gabriel and their intertwining and bittersweet story will stay with me for awhile.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love this book! It is perfectly paced and beautifully written. I loved the dual timelines. I tried so hard to figure out the ending, but all the twist made it impossible! Highly recommend!