4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5. I absolutely DEVOURED this book. The suspense…the romance…it all kept me hooked until the very end! I didn’t see the ending coming AT ALL! I loved the quick pace and short chapters. Definitely a read I would recommend. Thank you Simon & Schuster and Clare Leslie Hall for the ARC.

Young love, first love. Motherhood. Tragedy. A love triangle. More tragedy. A trial, a verdict.

In Broken Country, Clare Leslie Hall weaves all of the above into a twisty, dramatic narrative. Beth is at the center of the story (and the center of the advertised love triangle). She's married to Frank, trustworthy, lovely Frank, living on the family farm with Frank and his brother. Their contented farm life is interrupted when Gabriel moves back to town. Gabriel, Beth's first love. How can this possibly end well? Somebody's dead (we learn in the first sentence)! Cue the violins and let the mystery unfold.

Set in 1968, the story bounces back and forth between the present, the past, and the trial. There are surprises, there are reveals you see coming. There's a lot of heartstring tugging. There is character behavior that is relatable and some that make less sense (and may have evoked eye rolling).

Reviews are off the charts for this novel. Looks like I'm an outlier. It's a solid three stars for me. I enjoyed some of the twists, but I found some characters' actions questionable and had a lasting impression of being overly dramatic.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the Advance Reader Copy. (pub date 3/4/2025)

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC!

This book was far out of my normal genres so I was a bit unsure starting it, being mostly a romance and a historical fiction with just a sprinkle of mystery. However I'm very glad I did, it really was a great story.

So why not 5 stars? I HATE A LOVE TRIANGLE. Like with a passion. I've always hated them and always probably will. So considering that's a cornerstone of the book, you know it has to be great to be such a high rating.

I stayed a bit unsure of the book in the middle. I did not love Beth, she made very immature decisions though she is really young with a lot of trauma. I didn't love Gabriel either, he was too entitled. Frank was too good for this world in general. However in the end it all made sense.

The twists were some of the most shocking I've seen. I didn't see an ounce of it coming. I audibly gasped.

So whether you hate love triangles like me or it's out of your genre, I say read this regardless. It is worth the journey and such a beautiful book!

Frank has loved Beth since he was thirteen. Timing wasn’t right when he made his move as Beth was already involved with Gabriel, but when Gabriel breaks her heart, Frank is there quietly in the wings ready to pick up the pieces. Happy married for many years, all that is about to change. A dog is shot, a prodigal son arrives home with his own young son in tow and tensions rise until someone is dead and things will never be the same again. “The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.” This book was beautifully written. A perfect blend of love and mystery and with its tense undertones you will be flipping pages almost faster than you can read. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is a novel that gripped me from the very first page and never let go. A story of love, loss, and the inescapable pull of the past, it masterfully intertwines passion, heartbreak, and suspense, creating a narrative that feels both deeply personal and compelling.

Beth, Frank, and Gabriel are all complex, deeply human characters, and their layered relationships kept me utterly enthralled. Beth’s journey—torn between her past and present, between the woman she was and the woman she has become—was both compelling and heart-wrenching. The novel delves into themes of love, grief, social expectations, and the weight of history with stunning emotional depth. I found myself aching for Beth, for Frank, for Gabriel, and for Jimmy, each carrying their own burdens in ways that felt painfully real.

The setting, a small village rife with long-held secrets and simmering tensions, adds to the novel’s immersive quality. Hall masterfully captures the nuances of rural life, the way social standing and old wounds shape people’s choices. The twists and turns in the plot were unexpected yet entirely organic, making this as much a thrilling page-turner as it is a poignant exploration of human nature.

The emotions in Broken Country are raw and beautifully rendered—whether passion, grief, love, or regret, every feeling is palpable and profound. This book lingers in the mind long after the final page, and I have no doubt it will remain one of my favorite reads of the year. A stunning novel, one that I highly recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Broken Country is a beautifully written novel that blends love, betrayal, and suspense in a way that kept me hooked. The love triangle felt raw and complicated, with past and present colliding in unexpected ways. Clare Leslie Hall’s writing is atmospheric and deeply emotional, making every moment between Beth, Frank, and Gabriel feel lived-in and real. The courtroom drama added tension, and I found myself completely invested in the characters’ choices and consequences. A gripping and bittersweet read that lingers long after the final page.

Everything I heard about this book is so true! Loved it!

Can you love two people at one time? Beth fell madly in love with Gabriel when they were young. Things happen and him being from the upper class and her not, drives a wedge in her mind. She listens to his snobby mother and it fuels her doubts. When she reads his diary, she leaves him. Does time and a new life make that all go away? She marries Frank, the steadfast farmer who loves her and they build a life together, raising Bobby and working on the farm until tragedy changes all that. Enter Gabriel and his young son Leo. Can they heal her heart? Or does she live in regret for what she's doing?

There is a murder, accident? The trial and the aftermath changes everything for all of them. I do have to tell you that I figured out two key twists very easily but the story still flowed for me beautifully. I will definitely read more that the author writes in an instant.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for a copy for review.

I was hesitant to read this as I hate dog deaths but the reviews made me push through (the death is quick and not done gratuitously if you are concerned). I am glad I did because this was a fantastic novel. The foreshadowing was phenomenal and had me on the edge of my seat. The way details were unveiled was so well done and kept me interested. If you love drama (and love having your heart ripped in two), you will want to read this!

💔🐦🌳BOOK REVIEW🌳🐦💔

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

🥰Thank you so much to @simonbooks for the gifted book!

📖Title: Broken Country
✍️Author: Clare Leslie Hall
📅Pub date: March 4, 2025

🌳Let me just say, this book is not called BROKEN Country without just cause. 💔

🐦This book made me FEEL! I was horrified at certain parts, heartbroken at others, cheering some characters on and then the next minute judging them harshly for their decisions! This book is messy. This book is complicated.

🌳But WOW, is this story ever beautiful. Not in the typical sense, but trust me, when you get to the end and take a step back and are able to see the incredible story that Clare Leslie Hall has woven together over such a long time frame, you will be astounded.

🐦Not only is her writing stunning (I mean, I was hanging on every word), but the way she slowly revealed things kept me locked in like a horse chasing a carrot. I absolutely could not stop listening to this audiobook!

🌳I feel the need to make some disclaimers. This book deals with some topics that would normally make me want to DNF a book. I'm glad I didn't here, because as much as things were upsetting at certain times, I think the way it was handled and shown along with realistic effects made it more palatable for me. That's all I'll say with delving into spoiler territory, but I needed to say it. DM if you'd like more specifics.

⭐Overall, I haven't read a book in a while that had me so enthralled. I highly recommend!

This was nearly impossible to read as a mother to a young boy and a wife to the kindest man. What a beautifully tragic story. I will forever hold it against this author for making me ugly cry during my flight.

Could it be possible that I’ve already found my ‘best book of the year’ for 2025? Have you heard about BROKEN COUNTRY by Clare Leslie Hall? It’s Reese’s Book Club March ’25 pick…and for good reason.

I loved the main characters: Beth, sweet Frank, and Gabriel. It’s a romance and a suspenseful thriller rolled into one. From a peaceful beginning on the farm with the sheep milling around, the story jumps into a tense, emotional story featuring a love triangle that you will remember long after you read the last page.

The writing is superb, with two timelines, 1955 and 1968. The story smoothly flips back and forth between young lovers Beth and Gabriel as teenagers in the 50’s and present life in the late 60’s. Gabriel’s mother is a wretched woman but very believable.

The 1968 storyline is Beth’s life with Frank, a simple but kind sheep farmer. Their only son, Bobby, was killed in a tragic accident. With high emotional stakes, the story evolves, and readers watch the results and destruction as lies and heartaches push each character toward an unintended ending. Their lives merge, almost by fate. Readers cannot turn the pages fast enough, praying that regrettable mistakes can be avoided.

This is why I read—to find a story that envelops me, one that I almost become a part of, and I am standing beside these characters myself, watching and hoping. Emotions seep from the strong narrative: true love, heartbreak, compassion, grief, anger, fear, and sadness.

4.5 rounded up. I loved Broken Country, It is a beautifully written literary fiction novel mixed with family drama and a bit of suspense. The length was a lovely treat too in such a show stopper - at just over 300 pages, it was a powerhouse of a shorter novel and felt like everything I needed at the right time.

A love triangle? Sign me right up.

I enjoyed this, slow burn and surprise twist along with the love triangle and trail. Although a little rushed towards the end, this was a good read.

🐕Broken Country is a story that lingers. It is a blend of past and present, love and loss, choices and consequences. It's about moving forward, even when the weight of grief tries to hold you back.

Beth, Gabriel, and Frank have known each other since they were teenagers. Gabriel and Beth once loved each other, but things fell apart. Now, Beth and Frank are married, running their farm and building a life together. When Gabriel returns with his son, old wounds resurface, and grief that was never fully healed makes things messy. When tragedy strikes and a farmer is killed, everything unravels, forcing these characters to face the pain they've long tried to bury.🐕

🐑Going in, I thought I knew where the story was heading, and honestly, I wasn’t sure I’d connect with the characters' choices. But I was wrong. My heart ached for them. These are good people, shaped by love and bound by grief, each just trying to do their best and sometimes failing. The way this story explores the ripple effects of trauma felt raw and real.

I can’t say much more without giving things away, but this is one of those books that's best experienced blindly to really feel the emotions as they unfold.🐏

Thank you, Simon and Schuster for this book.

In 1955, Gabriel and Beth meet in the summer and quickly become an item. When Gabriel goes away to university, a misunderstanding leads to the end of their relationship; Beth comes home to marry Frank who has been in love with her since they were 13 years old; Gabriel marries Louisa who Beth thought was always the better match for him.

13 years later Gabriel is back in his home town with his son Leo; Beth is living on the farm with Frank where they have been grieving over the death of their son over the past 3 years. Sparks between Gabriel and Beth reignite but no one expected the chain of events to follow.

This book was so much more than I expected. Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC!

This storyline is incredibly moving and has a poetic, mysterious quality to it. I'm currently torn between giving it 4 or 5 stars, but I will round it down for now because I'm not a big fan of some of the themes explored. However, the writing is beautiful, and you will definitely feel a range of emotions while reading it. I highly recommend adding this to your TBR. This book is destined to become a classic.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster, for sending me the ARC.

'A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.'

What to expect:

✨Emotional read
✨Tragic past
✨Love triangle
✨Second chance romance
✨Family secrets
✨Small-town drama

Publication Date: March 04, 2025 - I think this may be your sign to go preorder if you haven't already!!

As always, all thoughts are my own. ✨🖤

Broken Country is a novel set in the 1950s and 1960s Dorset, England. It is a great story about a love triangle over 2 decades. The English countryside setting is full of beautiful imagery and of broken promises. Longing and regret. And a murder mystery, the man accused of the murder is full of guarded secrets. 
 
Broken Country is not a novel about choosing between the past and the present. Beth loved Gabriel, her first love, and it shaped her. So did Frank, the man who built a life with her after Gabriel was gone. Neither love eclipses the other. Both define her. The woman she is now exists because of them both. The novel refuses to rush this reckoning, keeping the love triangle unresolved until its final pages.
 
The themes are passion, regret, and the complexities of human relationships.. It emphasizes class differences, sexuality, and gender during its eras. The key themes include lost love, death of a child, infidelity, classism, and forgiveness.
 
A well-written, interesting story to the very end.

HEADLINE: 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐞.

An emotional story of love, loss, guilt and grief. A look at how choices shape our lives. Perfectly formed and utterly breathtaking & heartbreaking. It left me sobbing and filled with joy. The whole package- drama, love, mystery & pitch perfect pacing. Gorgeous from start to finish.

Broken Country is a poignant novel set in the English countryside, exploring love, loss, and buried secrets. The story follows Beth, who is torn between her stable marriage to Frank and her past with Gabriel. When a gunshot disrupts their farm, it reignites old emotions and unravels a decades-long tale. The book shifts between timelines, revealing Beth’s youthful romance with Gabriel, her life with Frank, and the devastating aftermath of tragedy. With themes of forbidden love, second chances, class differences, and the consequences of past choices, the novel also explores grief, justice, and the emotional weight of secrets. Clare Leslie Hall’s writing draws readers into the characters’ emotional turmoil, with the three-timeline structure adding depth despite occasional pacing issues. Beth’s character arc, from naive girl to woman confronting painful truths, is compelling, and her relationships—with Gabriel, who teeters on toxicity, and Frank, whose devotion makes his fate heartbreaking—add to the novel’s emotional impact. While the shifting timelines and character arcs may frustrate some, Broken Country is an emotionally charged and beautifully written story that blends romance, mystery, and drama, leaving readers reflecting on love, sacrifice, and the consequences of the past.

For a longer review, visit my Blog

I was not quite sure what to expect with Broken Country. It has been compared to Where the Crawdads Sing and to be honest that is why I chose to read this book. But I did not feel like the book was anything like Crawdads except for the description of nature.

1960s in a small rural English village is where this story begins. You quickly learn that Beth and her husband, Frank are working hard on their farm. The descriptions of the countryside and nature are outstanding. I felt like I was standing in this book. There is immediate tension when the farmer has to shoot a dog that has attacked their sheep. Unfortunately the dog belonged to a young boy who has recently moved to the area, is missing his mom, is not happy in his new surroundings, and doesn't fit in at school.

The story flips between 1960s, "Before", and the "Trial". The reader knows that there has been a murder or death but Hall leaves the readers in the dark at who has died. Is it Frank, Frank's brother, or Beth's first love Gabriel, who is the father of the young boy.

Hall also reveals that Beth and Frank have lost their son. She does not immediately tell us how he died but we know he is younger. His death has greatly impacted the entire family just like his birth impacted their entire family.

I am not going to say much more because I think readers need to just go in blind and read the book. I did feel that the middle of the story lagged a bit so that is why I am giving it 4 stars. Otherwise it is a great book with well developed characters. This is a story that will stick with me for some time.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.