𝗕𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 is the fantastic US debut from a well-known UK author. I loved every minute!

Beth is torn between her first love, Gabriel, and her husband, Frank, when Gabriel returns to their small village with his young son. From the very first page, it's clear that trouble lies ahead. The narrative pulled me in, making it impossible to put down!

This poignant story explores themes of love, betrayal, class, brotherhood, parenthood, loss, and so much more. It’s a courtroom thriller, a mystery and a romance all in rolled into one unputdownable book. Hall deserves all the accolades, this was a fantastic story.

This was incredible. The way it was written had me fully immersed in these characters lives. The back and forth between past and present worked so perfectly.
I’m gutted. This was such a tragic but ultimately beautiful story of grief, love, and above all, family. There are some mysteries and reveals but at the core it’s more about the characters. I genuinely loved every single character with my whole heart (besides Gabriel’s mom).

‘And everything was about Bobby, really, when you dug deep enough.’

This is a no notes book for me. It’s perfect.

This is a fantastic book that I will recommend over and over again. Read it. It’s amazing.

“Top Books of 2025! Lyrical. Mesmerizing. Stunning.”

In Clare Leslie Hall's US debut, BROKEN COUNTRY, we are introduced to a beautifully written lyrical and emotional love story triangle. But it is so much more. The author's eloquence captures the brutality and beauty of the rural English countryside setting, its animals, and the well-developed characters.

At its core is a woman's emotional odyssey, her love, her losses, her choices, and their profound consequences. The characters, Beth, Frank, and Gabriel, are not just names on a page but living, breathing individuals whose emotional turmoil will resonate with you long after you've turned the last page.

About...

Beth and Frank are married, reside in Hemston, North Dorset, in the countryside, and lead a beautiful life surrounded by farm animals.

Beth did not think she would be married to a farmer, swapping a bookish education for life among nature. The two are happy but have experienced loss, grief, and tragedy. They also have a past secret.

Things change when Beth's brother-in-law, Jimmy, shoots a dog while protecting their sheep. This gunshot will change the trajectory of their life.

The dog belongs to Gabriel Wolfe, who has moved back to the village with his son Leo. A man she loved as a teen and one who broke her heart. The boy reminds her of the son she lost, who died in a tragic accident. What happened between them?

Beth emotionally gets pulled back into Gabriel's life. There are secrets from the past. From jealousies, dark secrets, passion, first loves, choices, responsibilities, and this time with deadly consequences.

The entire village gets pulled into this devastating tragedy. Beth faces an impossible choice, torn between the life she expected to have with Gabriel and young love or the constant, steady life with a good man, Frank, who has sacrificed so much for her.

When the past meets the present, it is explosive, and lives will change. How will this love triangle end?

My thoughts...

I loved Broken Country! I devoured it. Breathtaking! Top books of 2025. This book will rip your heart apart and put it back together. Be sure to have some Kleenex handy. Hauntingly beautiful, layered, and lyrical, it is a novel of loss, love, grief, complex emotions, secrets, choices, and consequences.

All consuming, heart-stirring, and mysterious, it is captivating, spellbinding, suspenseful, and intense.

Two men, each unique, and one woman caught between them. The loss of a child. It blends suspense, thriller, domestic, family drama, and a love story. Set in 1968 and the past, 1955. When the past and present collide, the secrets are unveiled with unexpected and shocking twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

This is a masterpiece, movie, TV series worthy (please)!

BROKEN COUNTRY is unputdownable, powerful, passionate, spellbinding, and sure to top all the charts for months and years. It's already Reese's Book Club Pick and NYT bestseller. This book is full of heart, soul, forgiveness, human insight, and, at times, heartbreaking; however, the author brilliantly contrasts the good (beauty/love) with the bad (brutality/tragedy).

I was utterly captivated by this unforgettable story, and once you read it, these characters and the satisfying ending will linger in your thoughts. I eagerly anticipate more from this gifted storyteller.

Recs...

BROKEN COUNTRY is for fans of well-written, character-driven family dramas and love stories. Fans of Catherine Ryan White, Nicholas Sparks, Fredrik Backman, Elizabeth Berg, Ethan Joella, Richard Paul Evans, Rochelle Weinstein, Kristy Woodson Harvey, and Sally Hepworth will devour this one.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for introducing this author and this engrossing advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I loved it so much that I also purchased the hardcover and the audiobook narrated by Hattie Morahan for a superb, compelling, engaging performance and listening experience while making the characters come alive surrounded by this vivid setting and lyrical descriptions.

Move this gem to the top of your list. This may be one of my favorites thus far this year.

blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: March 4, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars +++
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March 2025 Must-Read Books

I was lucky enough to receive this ARC months ago (Thank you, Netgalley and Simon & Schuster) and I wish I hadn't slept on it for so long, because this was GOOD. Short, bingeable chapters, all full of just enough information and ending in ways that left me wanting to know what happens next and never wanting to put it down. There were some twists and turns that I was not expecting, and some that I did.

I didn't even realize this was being compared to "Where the Crawdads Sing" but I literally thought that to myself as I was reading, it just gave me those same vibes. I feel like some people could find this writing a little dry almost? It felt very forward, straight to the point, but I kind of enjoyed that. Fitting with the personalities of these characters. There were still plenty of emotions throughout though; grief, heartbreak, betrayal, forgiveness, love... I was sad at times, and angry as well. If I had to choose a favorite character, it would probably be Frank 🥺❤️‍🩹

I know this is tagged as "historical fiction", which I personally enjoy, but if you are not a HF person, don't let that deter you! This is definitely more character-based, leaning more towards the ‘fiction’ part and less the ‘historical’. haha

I would say it's worth picking up, for sure a book that held my attention!

This book is a heartbreaking story of a woman and the men she loves.
There is loss, love, and mystery woven into this story.Thank you to NetGalley for this review copy.

Broken Country isn't a long book, but manages to pack a big emotional punch, efficiently setting up a tight circle of relationships (and former relationships) that suddenly collide in an English meadow. With an emphasis on the natural world and a look at gender and class issues in the 1950s and 1960s, this book is definitely a good pick for a book club as it offers lots of opportunities to debate and defend choices made by the characters.
I think this will be a big hit thanks to Reeses Book Club (and now Barnes and Noble) but I think this book will be enjoyed by most (except those who don't like too much drama in their stories...)

Thanks so much to the publisher for the advance copy!

All the stars for this brilliant novel that completely captured my heart!

Told in a dual timeline, the story unfolds in the English countryside of 1968. Beth and Frank live on a farm with Frank’s brother, Jimmy, who helps out often. One day, a stray dog attacks their sheep, prompting Jimmy to shoot it—only to discover it belonged to a devastated young boy named Leo. Leo’s father is none other than Beth’s first love, Gabriel, a famous novelist who has recently divorced and moved back to his nearby country home. This chance encounter sets off a chain of events that is both shocking and deeply moving.

The novel alternates between 1968 and the summer of 1955, when Beth and Gabriel first fell in love. A misunderstanding between them when Gabriel leaves for Oxford abruptly ends their relationship. In the present, Beth, struggling with grief over the recent loss of her own son—who was the same age as Leo—feels immense guilt over the dog’s death. She buys Leo a puppy and begins helping Gabriel care for him, much to Frank’s dismay. As buried emotions resurface and secrets build, tensions rise, and heartbreak feels inevitable. Meanwhile, Jimmy’s volatile nature, fueled by alcohol, adds another layer of unpredictability.

This novel has everything—grief and loss, love and longing, a family saga, a love triangle, a gripping murder trial, and the intrigue of a gossip-fueled town. The prose is immersive, the characters deeply compelling, and the unexpected twists make it impossible to put down. You find yourself rooting for everyone, even when you’re not sure if you should.

A true masterpiece of literary fiction, this book is sure to be one of the most talked-about novels of 2025 and has already been optioned for the screen by Reese Witherspoon. While some compare it to Where the Crawdads Sing, I’d argue it’s even better. This stunning, unforgettable story will stay with me for a long time. Do not miss it!

While searching NetGalley for my next book to read, I saw this a Reese Witherspoon book club pick, I immediately requested and was fortunate to be granted a copy. NetGalley is so amazing by allowing me to read books by new authors. So I had no idea what to expect, but knew it would be great because Reese picked. This story is part romance, part thriller and how our choices become our deepest secrets. Clare Hall's writing, pulls you into this story that you never want it to end. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy. Add this to your TBR, you will not be sorry.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is the story of a romantic triangle and a murder mystery. The book keeps the reader guessing till the very end as to the who and how of the murder. The novel centers around Beth, a small-town girl, who would like to go to Oxford. Gabriel is the rich boy in town. As teenagers, they fall in love and vow to be together always. When Gabriel leaves for Oxford, Beth’s jealousy and mistrust causes her to do something which Gabriel finds hard to forgive. They part and never reach out to each other again. Beth marries Frank, the farm boy, who has always loved her. Years later when Gabriel comes back to town, events begin to spin out of control . Thus, the triangle begins. Beth and Frank are surrounded by loving family members. All the characters in this novel are very well developed and you feel like you know each of them. This is a very enjoyable book which shows the results of choices, mistrust and miscommunication. It shows how love can destroy as well as heal.

This story centers on Beth, a farmer's wife, who is struggling since losing her nine year old son. She is trying to hold it together and maintain her relationship with her husband when her ex boyfriend from when she was a teenager moves back to town. His dog ends up chasing the sheep on her farm and her brother in law shoots the dog. One moment changes everything and pretty soon things unravel as she spends time with him and his son, who reminds her of her own son. Pretty soon, Beth's world is completely rocked.

This is my favorite genre, romance with a bit of thriller/mystery added to it. It takes place in the 60's so it is a bit of a historical fiction as well. I was really engrossed in the story. I like that it wasn't a full romance but it had some thrill to it. It was a little sad but I really liked the love triangle element of the story. It was a great read. If you like romance with some drama then I definitely recommend this story. The ending was definitely satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed the story.

When I saw the synopsis of Broken Country, I knew instantly that I had to read it. Think of a mix of the mystery of The Frozen River and a love story like The Notebook and you'll get Broken Country.
Broken Country is written in a way that is easily consumed by all readers and keeps you engaged from cover to cover.
The book starts with the reader knowing someone has died but it isn't until almost the very end that we find out who and how it happened. I love this sort of backwards storytelling and it was done really well.
I also loved the push and pull of being with your first love and being with your lifetime love. Those are two feelings that are hard to create on page and I felt it was done so well in this novel. If only I liked the characters more...all of the characters were flawed in their own ways which made me so frustrated as a reader but also helped to push the story along.
Overall, I would recommend to anyone looking for an easy and engaging read!

Such great storytelling, multidimensional characters, and an unexpected ending! Loved the ride from start to finish and couldn’t put the book down. This story will definitely stay with me for a long time.

Beautiful cover.

One shot altered many lives in this story. Jimmy shoots a dog attacking their lambs and ripple effect initiated. Beth is married to Frank and lives on their farm, is content, missing her son until her high school love moves back. The open and blatant affair for the time period of 1968 seemed a bit out of that era and wish the affair wasn’t such a huge part of the story. Enjoyed the characters and they were well written. It unfolded a bit slow but well written.

Overall I enjoyed it. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon books for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Broken Country is one of my favorite reads in 2025 thus far. When Beth’s first love, Gabriel returns to their small village after his divorce, he threatens her already struggling relationship with her husband, Frank. Beth and Gabriel are given a second chance, but Beth still loves Frank and the life he has given her. I love the romance between Beth and both Gabriel and Frank. Each relationship started differently and developed into something real, tangible and life altering. This love story is written along with a mystery of who killed the Frank’s brother, Jimmy, and provides a few shocking and surprising twists before the mystery is resolved. I highly recommend this read. I’m currently trying to g to get my book club to read it and discuss.

I read this SO FAST!

Beth, girl, making so many not great decisions due to grief and loss, and hurting her husband Frank who is literally the nicest guy ever and he’s also suffering through grief and loss and guilt, and her old flame shows up and they realize they broke up over a bunch of misunderstandings back before college and made bad decisions back then and just a series of unfortunate events and Gabriel’s mom is the worst and Beth wasn’t good enough for him to you know how it is 🙄.

I did NOT see the twists at the end coming, it was one after the other, after the other, I was like what no, WHAT NO?! WHAAAAAT 😱.

The scene where Bobby dies was absolutely tragic, like truly heartbreaking to listen to.

Overall this novel had me hooked from start to finish, family drama, loss, grief, guilt, an affair. A tense trial, you’re trying to guess what happened and you will NOT guess correctly.

Definitely recommend picking this one up.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonbooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This. Book. Gets. All. The. Stars. I felt all the emotions with this one. Wow! I was not prepared for an intense roller coaster of a story. No one enjoys reading about infidelity, but this novel was so much more than that. First Love. Secrets. Tragedy. Grace. Mercy. Redemption. This book was filled with beautiful lyrical writing and atmospheric descriptions (picturing the Meadowlands and the Blakely Farm in my imagination). A propulsive family drama where the characters will stay in my heart and mind. I believe I have found one of my favorite books of 2025!

This is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in while! So heartbreaking, and yet hopeful. Hall weaved together a dual timeline that is engaging and completely satisfying.
This book is perfect for Bookclubs and I can't wait to discuss it with all my reading friends! I highly recommend!!

Unfortunately I couldn’t finish this book. The premise is interesting, and the writing is beautiful, but I just did not like the characters. And not even in an anti-hero kind of way, I just thought they were all annoying. I really wanted to love it, and honestly maybe if I was in a different kind of reading mood I might have. I think I’ll try to pick it up again in the future and give it another shot.
Plot: 4
Characters: 2
Writing: 4
Entertainment: 3
Overall: 3.25

I was truly engrossed in this book and at no point did I want to set it down! All the characters are such great representations of realistic people going through life carrying the weight of their character flaws and life decisions. Even with moments where I wanted to dislike the characters, it was difficult to do so! Delia Owens has an author line on the cover of the book and what a fitting choice because I'd definitely recommend this to readers who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing. Broken Country held the same murder mystery elements along with scenes from the court room with cross examination and the jury verdict all while we find out what happened through flashbacks. I will be thinking about this book long after I completed it!

This was such a beautifully written story! I loved the atmospheric farm setting and the fact that although we knew someone had been killed, we didn't know who. The author fed us little bits of information at a time until it was revealed at the end. I enjoyed the courtroom scenes and how flawed, yet lovable, these characters were. There were shocking twists and revelations that I didn't expect. You'll need to have tissues handy when you read this one. I needed them a few times while reading this!