A multi layered story about a woman, her first love, and the complications of that first love returning to her hometown. It was a story about love, betrayal, and sacrifice. I really enjoyed the way it was told and the shifting time frames that allowed us to get a glimpse of who everyone was in different times before beginning to unravel what happened and why.
I think this will be a huge hit for a lot of readers, however I feel like there were way too many twists thrown at the end and I also wished I knew more about all the characters.

4.5 STARS

“It’s true what they say: you can live a whole lifetime in a final moment.”

The tears are still falling from my eyes as I write this review. This story of first love, tragedy, deceit, and redemption is nothing short of epic, tragic, passionate and all consuming.

Beth Kennedy and Gabriel Wolfe meet as teenagers one summer and share an immediate and intense love. Their time together is filled with joy and passion as they both fall deeply in love. When Gabriel goes off to Oxford for college, circumstances, miscommunication and harsh words will end the relationship.

Beth is then courted by the handsome farmer Frank Johnson who has loved Beth since he was thirteen years old. Frank picks up the pieces of Beth’s heart and becomes her very loving husband. They welcome a baby boy into their lives and share a wonderful life on Blakely Farm.

When tragedy strikes the Johnson family and then shortly after Gabriel and his son move back to their small village, life for Beth becomes confusing as old feelings become unearthed. As Gabriel and his son Leo become regulars in Beth’s life it causes friction for Frank as he knows the history between them. This friction only grows and soon another tragedy strikes that will leave everyone in despair. It is absolutely heartbreaking how much this family endures and how life has broken them so many times.

The book is told in alternating timelines to tie the whole story together. It is so well done and kept me on the edge of my seat. There is a certain twist that I never saw coming and I think my jaw is still on the floor. Excellent storytelling, beautiful prose, and a heart wrenching experience from start to finish. I really enjoyed Broken Country and all the feelings it brought out in me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was incredibly well done. Beautifully written, Heartbreaking. The characters are so real, well developed and flawed. The people next door. The story transports you into a small farm town - you can smell the smells and see the sights. That is how well written this book is. Different perspectives and timelines that are seamlessly woven together. You become invested and engaged from page 1 - and are not ready for the book to end. You will laugh, you will cry and you will want to close your eyes. Gabriel, the man who broke Beth's heart has returned with his son, Leo, but she does not realize that until after her brother-in-law has to shoot the kids dog. As she is pulled into their lives, the secrets of her past, the town's jealousy and the heartbreak of losing her own son, Bobby, are all front and center. Just incredibly well written. An amazing way to start March - and a must read for 2025.

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

This book grabbed me from the very first line: "The farmer is dead, he is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him." What unravels throughout the book is a complicated love triangle set in 1960s England in a small village. This story is heart-wrenching at times (especially the ending), but the characters feel so real and the story had enough suspense to keep me enthralled the whole time. There were also a few twists that I didn't see coming, which is rare for a historical fiction read. I will definitely be recommending this to other readers!

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall 🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on March 4, 2025.

I have read some excellent books already this year, and this is one of them. I will remember this story and these characters for a long time. Pick up a copy. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Highly recommended! 👍🏻👍🏻

“This is a love story and it is better, by far, than any of the ones I have dreamed up in the past. If I'm allowed a wish, just one, then it is this: I wish for our story to have a happy ending.”
— Clare Leslie Hall, Broken Country

Excellent book.

This one captivated me from the start. Told in two timelines for most of the novel, with a third added towards the end, we follow the Lives of Beth, Frank, Jimmy and Gabriel and their families in a small English village.

Beth, a villager, met Gabriel, son of the family living in the big estate overlooking the village, as a teenager in 1955. After a brief, passionate romance, they part ways.

In 1968 Gabriel returns to the village with his young son Leo, during a separation from his wife. He finds Beth, who has been happily married to gentle farmer Frank, now both grieving from the loss of their son Bobby in a farming accident. As expected, there are soon feelings between them, especially as Beth befriends Leo.

From the beginning, we know that there has been a murder, and that someone is on trial. But who was murdered, and who is on trial? The book alternates between 1955 and 1968 as we learn what is really happening to all of the characters involved. In the second half of the book we add in the third timeline of the trial itself.

Its hard to choose the genre for this book, as it's a romance, love triangle, murder mystery and family saga all rolled into one. The characters are all flawed, and wonderfully depicted. There are several twists to the story, a couple of which I guessed but one at least that I didn't until it was revealed.

It was a wonderful read, that provoked so many emotions from sadness and anxiety through to joy.

My only complaint, a very minor one, is that for me the title doesn't reflect the book. When I think of the title, the plot isn't coming to mind.

Firstly, thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is a emotional roller-coaster of a story set on a working farm in the English countryside. This story includes, murder, family secrets and a years-long tragic love triangle. It blends genres of mystery, romance and historical drama in a well-written saga.
Beth is a woman caught between two loves — her steadfast and solid husband, Frank, and her first love, dashing Gabriel, who suddenly reappears in her life after years of separation. Re-awakened young love competes with the weight of past tragedies, with the reality of Beth’s current life and with the deep love of her husband. Tension builds in a slow burn and ultimately ends in tragedy and the revelation of family secrets.
The book is well-written and emotionally resonant. Though I did find a few of the plot twists predictable, I still enjoyed this novel. The characters are believable and realistically flawed. This book is about choices and their impacts and ultimately the sacrifices we make for love.

This book felt like a close friend sharing a heartfelt story with me. The writing was intimate and engaging. Just like with any friend’s story, there were components of the book where I wanted to yell at my friend and ask her what were you thinking and other times that the empathy would just be pouring from my heart.

This is a historical novel that is set in the late 1960s on a farm. Some of the key characters are Beth and Frank Johnson, husband and wife and Frank’s brother, Jimmy. All three are grieving the loss of Frank and Beth’s 9-year-old son, Bobby, who died as the result of a tragic accident on the farm. As the story unfolds, we are also taken back through Beth’s memories to 1955 when Beth met her first love, Gabriel. Many of these memories come back to Beth when Gabriel and his son, Leo unexpectedly return to town.

Beyond that, there is a murder trial in 1969 where the reader doesn’t initially know who is on trial and who was murdered. Over time, everything is revealed with a few twists along the way

The book explores love, loss, the impact of grief and the impossible choices and sacrifices people are willing to make to protect their loved ones.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

#BrokenCountry, #ClareLeslieHall, #NetGalley

We all know farm life to be peaceful and quiet, but not in this farm town.

Scandal erupts through this farm town and you follow all the member of a love triangle through what is the trail of the century for this quaint little farm town. Through the multiple perspectives of the members involved, will a resolution be determined for this trial or will the members of the town be left guessing?

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

Broken Country is the perfect title for this book written by Clare Leslie Hall. It is about first love, and the passion that a first love brings. Gabrielle comes from a wealthy family. He falls in love with Beth, a farmers daughter. Gabrielle’s mother is determined to do whatever it takes to end their relationship. She is successful, but everyone pays the consequences in the end.

I loved the characters, Frank the most. His love for his wife, his son, his brother and the farm are extraordinary. He will do anything to protect the ones he loves and even the people he doesn’t.

This is a great book to read on a cold night cuddled up in bed. It will grab you from the beginning. Bring Kleenex around for the end. Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was an emotional and beautifully written book.

Love triangle plots aren’t usually my favorite, but it worked for me here. The past and present timelines added so much to the story, and had me conflicted in who I was rooting for at times (though in the end I had definitely made up my mind🥺). I also loved how much backstory we got with the past timelines, and how the reveals (and suspense) in that paired up with the present day timeline. I really felt like I knew these characters by the end of the book.

The mystery plot kept me engaged the whole way through. The courtroom scenes were intense, and sometimes the drama felt a little over the top, but I was so invested that I could overlook it. However, I’d say that the mystery is secondary to the actual love story. The country setting felt perfect for this plot, and let us focus on all the quiet ways these characters have been shaped by circumstance throughout their lives. The twist at the end had me in tears, and felt very bittersweet.

Read this one if you’re in the mood for an emotional roller coaster!

Wow. I just finished this book about an hour ago, and my heart is heavy. This book about bad choices and their repercussions is tragic and heartbreaking, which is what also makes it so moving.

Be warned: several of the characters are deeply flawed and completely unlikeable at times, but they are also very real, which is something I appreciate so much in my books. There were times where I absolutely hated what was going on with the plot of this book (and the decisions the characters were making), but I understand why it was entirely necessary to the story.

I did find myself struggling with how the chapters were titled as "before" or "1968". I think it was confusing me because obviously in 2025, I think of 1968 as "before". So it kept throwing me off when it would go "back" to the 1968 chapters, because in the book, those were actually present-day chapters. I would quickly figure it out based on what was happening, but my brain never got used to that (and I honestly kept forgetting that the book was set in an older time period. It would only be when something came up that was obviously from an older time that I was remember it was set in the 60s. I don't know why it was such a struggle for me, but I definitely think that's just a "me" problem.).

Anyway, I really don't want to spoil anything, but just know that your heart will break for nearly every single character in this book, but the reasons for that heartbreak will be different for each of them. I have sympathy for all of them, even the ones I found unlikeable.

I love the way the book was laid out and the way things were revealed. It was brilliantly done, but I don't want to expand on that, because I want everyone to experience it for themselves.

I adored this book and will recommend it to anyone that likes books about families and flawed characters. Truly stunning and one that will stick with me for a very long time.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This was an amazing story that I won't soon forget. It had me turning the pages into the late night. I enjoyed the pacing and characters. I'll be looking forward to reading more books by this author.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.
My full review be shared to my Instagram account @coffee.break.book.reviews

This was quite a unique and thrilling historical fiction. I was pulled into the plot right away. It's full of twists, suspense, romance, forbidden love, family and small town drama. Lots to keep you hooked the whole way through.

Taking place over dual timelines,1955 and and 1968. Beth is a teenager when she meets and falls in love with Gabriel in 1955. He ultimately breaks her heart. In 1968, Beth is happily married to Frank and living on an English sheep farm with him and his brother Jimmy. When Jimmy is forced to shoot a dog who is going after their sheep, she finds out that the dog belongs to Gabriel, who has come back to his ancestral home with his young son after divorcing his American wife. Beth is pulled back into Gabriels life and old feelings resurface. Beth is torn between her feelings for Gabriel and her loving husband Frank. But Beth and Frank do have secrets that they do not want getting out. But everything, things start to come to the surface and Beth is forced to make some very hard choices.

Wow friends ... .this one was heartbreaking and so well written. What a story. EXCELLENT!! I loved it! You can easily connect with all of the characters, and the choices they make, The ending ....😭😭😭 …That really got me! Grab the tissues and pick this book up. You will not be sorry.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Sobbing hysterically…I’ll be back with a review when I can find the words 😭😭😭

Okay, I'm back. I had to sit with this one and digest it for a bit. I have no doubt that this book will live in my heart forever.

I went in blind and didn't try to figure out things as I went along, I simply enjoyed the ride and the heart-stoppingly beautiful prose. And then the END...man, it just blew me away. Broke my heart into a million little pieces and then mended it in the same breath.

Just astounding. A true testament to love, mistakes, forgiveness, guilt, and grief.

Everyone is going to be talking about this book, mark my words.

5 wow stars

“The farmer is dead. He is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.”

This is how this fantastic book starts, and all those other 5-star reviews are spot on! Filled with love, murder, mistakes, romance, and strong storytelling, this one has all the elements I love in a book.

I was completely drawn into this one, set in the English countryside. The small cast of characters is fascinating, and I loved every minute of getting to know them.

Beth has a whirlwind teen romance with the gorgeous and wealthy Gabriel Wolfe. His mother is quick to tell Beth that it won’t last and that Beth is way out of her league. It will be especially challenging as Gabriel heads off to Oxford. But Beth is quite bright and will be interviewing for her own shot at university.

Frank, a sheep farmer like his father, also loves Beth, but Gabriel got to her first. We don’t know all the details at first, but something happens between Beth and Gabriel, and Frank ends up with the girl after all. They have embraced farm life and love their young son, Bobby. They live on the farm with Frank’s brother.

Everything changes when Gabriel moves back to town with his son, Leo. Beth can’t seem to keep away, even though it hurts Frank to the core. This part was challenging to read as I grew to love Frank and didn’t want to see him hurt.

The book is told in alternating timelines. We know there has been a murder and a trial is ongoing, but we don’t know all the details until the very end.

The pace in this one is excellent, and by the time all the pieces come together, my heart was broken. I shed ugly tears at the end, and I can’t wait to read what this author writes next.

This was such a beautifully written and nuanced book about the complexities of love and grief. I loved the storytelling provided through the various time periods and how details were included and unraveled in different parts of Beth's life. All of the characters were so well developed, and the reader is able to root for all of them.

I can't wait to recommend this book to friends so that they can all appreciate the beautiful complexities of life Clare Leslie Hall masterfully constructed in this novel. I look forward to reading other books by this author in the future.

First, thank you to Simon & Schuster and Clare Leslie Hall for allowing me to review an advance copy of this book.

I am not the sort of reader who has strong outward reactions to books I read, but Clare Leslie Hall’s 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 did just what the title promised. It broke me. I found tears welling up in my eyes as I reached the end of the book. I cannot remember the last time that happened with a book I read.

While nominally marketed as a thriller - largely because the tagline/opening chapter of the book is, “The farmer is dead. He is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.” - this book is for all intents and purposes a love story. Yes, we are aware from the beginning someone dies, it’s not why you keep turning the pages. You are aware a tragedy lies at the end of the novel, but the same could be said for Othello.

The book begins with Jimmy, the narrator Beth’s brother-in-law, killing a dog to stop it from mauling the sheep on the family farm. The dog belongs to Leo, the son of Gabriel Wolfe - Beth’s first teenage love and a well-known writer. Beth, however, is now married to Frank and they mourn the loss of their son Bobby. Leo and Beth strike up a friendship because he reminds her of her late son…and matters get complicated. The story unfolds on three different timelines: “before,” the present (1968), and the trial (it may have been mentioned but seems to be 1969).

The book deals with themes of loss and redemption, as well as forbidden love. Additionally, the “before” scenes between Gabriel and Beth have a bit of an Austenesque feel where they have to deal with a bit of class difference.

Also it’s just the teeniest bit spicy in places.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱:
- The writing is engaging and evocative. As I mentioned, the book made me cry a little.
- The story pushes forward continuously. There are no extraneous elements. There is a tight cast of characters. Every element to the story serves a purpose.
- Characters. There are multiple complex, multidimensional characters. They feel like real people with real motivations and real pains. They are relatable and understandable.
- The dialogue is very believable.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗶𝗱𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
- The trial section is a little confusing because it’s meant to be vague for most of the book. They aren’t extraneous but they are a little jarring when they come up.
- This book is marketed under “mystery and thriller” which, I would argue, it is not in anyway. If you are coming in looking for a whodunnit full of suspense and murder, it’s not this book. It’s closer to literary fiction with a little bit more plot.

𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁:
I loved this book. It will be in my 2025 Christmas gifting rotation for sure.

Thank you net galley and Clare Leslie Hall for allowing me to read this book early in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel! I gave this book 3.75 stars but you def it up to 4 on good reads!

This book had all the elements! Mystery, scandal, romance, grief—everything that makes for a gripping story! It was different than my usual reads in the best way. I am glad to be expanding my palate in terms of reading and this was a great book to help with that. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for the honest review.