This book was everything I love about a book!! Romance, family drama, conflicted characters, atmospheric setting, and a mystery to top it off and keep you on pins and needles till the end!! All put together with obviously skilled writing. I’ll be raving about this book for a long time to come.

I consumed Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall over the course of a day and a half. It's a story of love, trauma, and a murder mystery all in one.

In Broken Country, Beth is forced to revisit ghost of her past when her first love returns to town and to her life. Her life hasn't been easy. Unexpected twists, turns, and loss have happened in the years since she married her husband Frank. While she loves Frank and the life she has built with him, the presence of Gabriel and her son make her question everything with alarming consequence.

As I mentioned before, I could not put this book down. Part murder mystery, part love story, this book explores major grey areas and complexities of the heart. The plot of this book moved especially quickly. The writing is easy to devour and left me fully immersed in the story.

Most readers will gather this from the description, but I think it's worth mentioning that infidelity is a large part of this book. Readers who are especially put off by reading about infidelity, especially when the story somewhat justifies it, could be put off. While I don't love reading infidelity in books, I felt like it fit in this one because of the complex exploration of the impact of grief.

When I finished this book I didn't know how to feel, but I felt several emotions at once. This will be an excellent selection for readers in a book club because there is so much to unpack and discuss. I foresee this book being surrounded by commentary once it publishes in March!

“The farmer is dead, he is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.“

This is a heartbreakingly beautiful story filled with loss, love, regrets, and sacrifice. The story is told in alternating timelines of 1968, the trial, and before. We don't know who is on trial at first. We're provided with the complex history of our three primary characters, Beth, Frank, and Gabriel, before we get more details surrounding the trial about halfway through the book. Our characters aren't particularly likeable, but rather incredibly imperfect people trying to wade through their connected lives. That first line will sink it's hooks in as the unraveling story captivates throughout. This is a historical fiction with elements of mystery and romance that will keep you invested.

This book truly has everything! It’s a mix of romance, a love triangle, mystery, and suspense. The story unfolds across two timelines—one in 1955, when Beth is a teenager, and another 13 years later, when Beth is happily married. A shooting occurs early on, but the identity of the victim remains a mystery. From there, a trial follows, and unexpected twists keep you hooked. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more from Clare Leslie Hall.

Read If You Like:
- Sweeping love stories with thriller elements
- Explorations of first love's lasting impact
- Narratives set in the English countryside
- Dual timelines intertwining past and present

In 1968, Beth Johnson, residing in Dorset with her husband Frank, is still mourning the tragic loss of their nine-year-old son two years prior. Her world is further disrupted when Gabriel, her affluent childhood love, returns to the village with his young son after a separation.

As Gabriel's reappearance stirs buried emotions and village tensions, Beth is confronted with choices that challenge her sense of self and the life she's built.

Clare Leslie Hall masterfully crafts a narrative that toggles between past and present, exploring how first love's legacy can reverberate through time. This is a compelling tale of passion, impossible choices, and the far-reaching consequences of our actions.

I really enjoyed this dramatic literary fiction -- I was engaged the whole time and really curious to find out what was going on and how it would all resolve.

Parts of this book were incredibly sad and deal with some very real topics in a delicate way.

I really enjoyed Beth's character, and I thought Frank and Jimmy were so sweet, and especially their loyalty. I loved Beth's friendship with Leo -- it was very sweet and healing. Gabriel was my least favorite character but I enjoyed learning more about him as the story unfolded.

I am so excited to read more from Clare Leslie Hall in the future! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys relationship dramas and likes strong characters and suspenseful stories.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This book has it all: mystery, murder, a love triangle, a court case, and suspense. Broken Country takes past and present timelines to show how small decisions can take shape and have lasting impacts. This book kept me hooked all the way through!

It is sheep birthing season in an English village, and Beth is busy taking care of the sheep on her and her husband’s farm. Then the worst thing happens one day; a rogue dog gets into the pasture and starts killing the sheep. Beth’s brother-in-law has to shoot and kill the dog. That is when Beth realizes who the owner of the dog is: a man who she loved from her past. Gabriel has moved back home after his marriage did not work out. Those feelings for Gabriel are still there, but Beth is married to Frank. The story then really unfolds from here, all while knowing in the present day a farmer is dead and the case goes to trial. I felt like I flew through this book.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Clare Leslie Hall, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my stars! This book ranks in the top books of the year for me. My first Clare Leslie Hall novel but definitely not my last. Such a beautiful concoction of feelings, people places and love. The setting was fantastic. The characters could not be any more perfect. This book had all the feels! Tender, yet tough, crazy circumstances. This is the real deal. Don’t let it pass you by.
Thank you, NetGalley, Clare Leslie Hall, and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this excellent book

DNF.

I worried through 60% of this book that a character was going to cheat, but k gave them the benefit of the doubt that they were better. Alas, THEY WERE NOT.

Y’all been around long enough to know I don’t do cheating. 👎🏻

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is an amazing and emotional book that really hits you in the feels. From the first page, I was hooked. The story is so powerful, and the characters feel super real. It’s all about dealing with the past, finding strength through hardships, and discovering who you really are. Hall writes in such a way that you can’t help but feel connected to the characters and what they’re going through.

One thing I loved about the book was the setting. The author describes the country landscapes so beautifully that it almost felt like I was there with the characters, feeling the weight of their struggles. The land itself feels like a character in the story, and the way it connects to the characters' lives makes everything even more meaningful.

What really stands out is how the book talks about tough topics like loss, trauma, and personal growth, but also shows how people can heal and find hope again. It’s not all sad; there are moments of light and strength that give you hope for the future.

I honestly couldn’t put this book down. It made me think about how we can find strength in the most unexpected places and how our past doesn’t have to define us. If you love books that make you think and feel deeply, Broken Country is definitely a must-read. It’s a story that will stay with you long after you finish it.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

wow, this one surprised me! normally love triangles aren’t my thing but the way i was captivated from page 1!

it was powerful, emotional, tragic but also extremely heartfelt. i fell in love with clare’s writing style and just couldn’t put this down.

the setting and timeline was so unique, the characters multitude of bad decisions along with the unspeakable tragedies adds a sense of foreboding that make this story unforgettable.

𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 is out march 4, 2025!

thank you to netgalley, simon & schuster and clare leslie hall for the advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If your Instagram feed looks like mine, this is not the first time you’ve seen this book! And with good reason- it is a fascinating storyline that explores love. Old love, reliable love, love amidst grief, and the extremes we go to for love. And of course, part of the reason for the buzz around it, a love triangle.

You know I’m not giving away too much. It would take away from the fun of it! But one critique I do have that makes it only a so-so read for me despite me devouring it in 24 hours is that I’m not sure the actions of all the characters involved warranted a love triangle. For someone as seemingly intelligent as the female main character seemed, I would think the two other points of the triangle would need to be equally compelling in order for her to make the choices she did. And I’m not sure that’s a true statement for me.

But don’t take my word for it! Most everyone I know says this book is a home run of a story, and I think it’s worth reading to find out if you agree! Thank you @netgalley and the publisher for my #gifted copy!

WOW. A deep character driven novel with rapidly moving plot and lots of drama, I really couldn't put this down and think it will be a hit with all readers for all those reasons. Beth and Frank are sheep farmers in 1960s England mourning the loss of their son Bobby, while trying to carry on. When Beth's first love, Gabriel, turns up in his childhood home right across from the farm, we learn about their love and heartbreak. As a great poet Taylor Swift once said, this book was truly sad, beautiful, and tragic. Highly recommend!

I was disappointed. I felt the characters were flat. The story started ok, but there wasn't enough foreshadowing of the crime and trial to keep me reading to the end.

There was so much sadness in this book. It also had equal amounts of love. Looking back, would Beth have chosen to live without love in order to stave off the sadness? Was the sadness worth the love that she received and gave? Very well written, this book kept my interest. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the complementary digital ARC. This review is my opinion and not coerced in any way.

3.5 stars. This book is beautifully written, feeling both authentic and poetic. It felt like a grand melancholy romance, even though it subverted many standard tropes - it does technically have a happy ending, even if it’s tinged with sadness.

The time jumps were confusing at times as the book kept a very fast pace. Beth, Gabriel, and Frank aren’t particularly likeable but, most importantly, they feel like real, imperfect people.

Overall a beautiful read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Clare Leslie Hall, and Simon & Schuester for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Simon & Schuster eARC
I have been seeing this book get early buzz, so I gave it a go even though I was hesitant because of the love triangle plot point, but I was left at the end with tears streaming down my face because the author captured such a beautiful and heartbreaking story here. Told in a non-linear timeline, we come to know Beth, her husband Frank, and her first love Gabriel. The story slowly unfolds between the past and present with a trial that's slowly revealed throughout the book. I fell so hard for these flawed and imperfect characters. They were complex and grieving and doing their best to survive - and live. I don't want to say much more because it's best to go in and meet these characters where they're at and just sit with them as you read their story. It was excellent.

I absolutely loved this book! Broken Country is both heartbreaking and hopeful. The novel opens with the death of a farmer but who it is remains unrevealed for a good portion of the book. There are dual timelines as we learn the story of Beth (the first person narrator), Frank and Gabriel and the resulting love triangle. While there is an element of mystery, it is more a love story, not just of romantic love but love of family.

Fans of Chris Whitaker and Liz Moore will really enjoy this novel as Broken Country is a perfect combination of literature and mystery. There are also a few twists along the way. I also liked the way the author’s note was prior to the start of the novel as it added meaning to the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author and I hope this novel is a huge success.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

What a tragic love story! This story flows effortlessly between the past and present. It’s full of romance and surprises. There’s a twist I didn’t see coming and it blew me away. I couldn’t put this book down. Definitely recommend

I wish this one had focused on the thriller aspect of the story instead of leaning into a slight love triangle which I'm sorry doesn't belong in thrillers and suspense because it's not romance.