A mix of very ordinary and extraordinary events blend together to cause heartache for two families. This book had me sobbing for these characters, all of whom suffered through severe hardships, but managed to persevere and find their joy.

This is a love story, a family saga, and a character driven tale about the lengths one will go to do the right thing. It is superbly written and you’ll find yourself wanting it to go on much longer.

I highly recommend this 5-star read and I will be watching for the next book by this talented author. Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the eARC.

Wow! This book is an emotional and beautifully complex masterpiece that captivated me from start to finish. Hall masterfully weaves a narrative filled with unexpected twists, keeping readers on their toes until the very last page. The depth of emotion conveyed throughout the story is profound, leaving me weeping as I journeyed alongside the characters. It’s a rare gem that defies simple description, but suffice it to say, I adored every moment spent in the pages of “Broken Country.” This book is a testament to Hall’s extraordinary ability to craft a story that resonates deeply and lingers long after the final chapter.

This book should certainly win the prize for the most jumps in the time line. Some of the chapters are designated by the year - 1968 or sometime in the '50s. Some of the chapters are designated as "before" or "earlier" or ... well, I just can't remember. There was no continuity in the time setting at all. The plot was completely obliterated by all of these flashbacks and jumps, hither, thither and yon.

Broken Country? It's more about broken hearts: our leading lady is scorned by her first love; her faithful husband has to watch his wife fall back in love with the man who scorned her AND with his son; the son is brokenhearted over the death of his dog. The faithful husband is also broken hearted over the killing of his lambs. And on and on and on. Everybody is broken hearted over something - current, past or to come.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I could only get through a quarter of the book. The premise had a lot of potential, but the narrator seemed one-dimensional and just plain boring. Her narration read like a cliche, and the back and forth between "before" and "after" and the random times in between served no purpose than to add unnecessary exposition to her rather dull backstory. I would have preferred the narrative to be linear -- start with her meeting of Gabriel and end with the trial. The reviews online are glowing, which made me wonder if I should have stuck with the book for longer, but the writing simply was not it for me.

Wow, how to describe this story, It's a love story ,a mystery, and so much more...
I didn't see the ending coming. Well done , Claire Leslie Hall. Can't wait to read your next book. Thank you Net Galley for chance to read this ARC.

Highly recommended for readers of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING and THE PAPER PALACE. Alternating between past and present, this book has it all—a gripping mystery, family secrets, a sexy love story... and twists that will have your head spinning and jaw on the floor.

This was a beautifully written book about love, grief and forgiveness. I loved this story and couldn’t put down. Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

The first paragraph in the book "the farmer is dead. He is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him" . This is not a detective story , It is a love story where hidden truths, family relationships all come together. . Story takes place in a small English farming village. Teenage Beth has fallen in love with Gabriel, the son of the "lord of the manor" of the village. When Gabriel goes to University his relationship with Beth ends. Present day - Beth is happily married to Frank whom she grew up with. They had a son, Bobby, who passed away. Gabriel comes back to the village with his son Leo who reminds Beth of Bobby. When Beth is asked to care for Leo and spends more time with Gabriel their feelings for each other surface.
A very different love story.. I read this book in one day. This is the author's first book and I hope it is not the last. Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! Beautifully written and cuts deep with love, loss, ye And forgiveness. All the feels in this treasure. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.