This was a lovely read that quietly works its way in. It reminded me of Kristin Hannah, particularly True Colors and The Four Winds, with its blend of intimate family drama and sweeping emotional arcs. The narrative flows across three timelines, but the transitions are smooth and clear, maybe too clear? I wanted a few more surprises or deeper twists, nothing was unexpected to me. The characters’ motivations felt natural and understandable, which is impressive given we see them all through the lens of the main character. Everyone is flawed, deeply human, and loveable, except for HER (if you know, you know). The story explores themes of passion, love, heartbreak, guilt, and duty beautifully. It didn’t break me open, but it probably left an impression.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the advance copy.

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑
This was an unexpected excellent read. I have seen it around a lot, with accompanied high ratings, but sometimes the hype isn’t real - in this case, for me, it was.

I definitely didn’t expect this to be such an immersive read. I fell right into this book and was entirely swept up by the plot and characters. The back-and-forth and alternating timeline definitely aided in pulling me into the story and finding it hard to put down. I all but devoured this book, something I would have never suspected and is a huge testament to the author’s ability to weave a tale.

I feel like some aspects of this book may have had a lukewarm reception in the context of sympathizing or empathizing with Beth’s choices, but I think sometimes, not everything is entirely black and white. The pull of and emotional ties from a first love, in combination with both the feeling and unrest of the path-not-taken and unfinished business, are described through an understanding of their weight and influence, which I feel is honest.

In terms of plot, while I had anticipated some the of events, there was definitely few moments that surprised me. Without giving spoilers, it did good job of having a story arc while offering up some surprised.

There’s also a spotlight here in the weight of unbearable loss. The author also did a good job of highlighting secondary losses within grief. When you endure a life-shattering loss, your grief can become an insular experience, even if the loss is a shared one. One thing in particular that I noted was the commentary on how other people become uncomfortable with your grief and have a tendency to not allow space for it, including the ability to talk about the person you lost. Not allowing space for you to talk about the person you lost is almost like a repeated or secondary loss.

Ultimately, for me, this was entirely worthy of the hype it stirred and an excellent read.

~👩🏻‍🦰

I loved this book, this story, these characters. Flawed, human, real! It starts with a death, a bit of a who dun it, but ultimately a love story, and what a love story. This had all the 'feels' - plus, courtroom drama. I had to force myself to read it slowly, because I wasn't sure I was ready for the end, or even the middle. definitely one of the best books i've read so far this year, if not the best.

The only reason this soap opera even gets two stars from me is because I did enjoy the first half of it, the loss of a child and all that went with those feelings, I felt it as a mother. More than halfway in, however, I knew this would not get from me because of the infidelity, the whining, how this mother dealt with the loss of her child by involving another child and a former lover.

The story was a flipping mess. Why it’s rated so highly is a mystery to me. Why women choose to read about infidelity, be it physical or emotional, is a mystery to me. Although the ending is somewhat satisfying, it is unrealistic. Oh my gosh, I could go on but there would be too many spoilers. Moving on.

Thank you Net Galley for an advanced peek. Glad I didn’t purchase this one.

I will be thinking about this book all year. Part character driven family drama, part mystery, part love triangle, this book grabbed a hold of me and ripped my heart in so many different directions. We are sucked into the mystery immediately and the dual timeline was expertly written. I can't say enough good things about Broken Country. Read it!

This book really surprised me! Based on the cover, I didn’t think it would be a favourite of mine. It also felt like a little bit of a slow start for me, so I didn’t think I was going to gain much interest. But it didn’t take long for me to be completely invested in this heart-wrenching story.

You’ve got Beth and her husband Frank who are farmers. Then you throw in Gabriel, Beth’s first true love, who has returned to her small town after years of not speaking. And with Gabriel is Leo, his son, who reminds Beth so much of Bobby, her own little boy who died in a tragic accident.

See what I mean by heart-wrenching?

The story has a variety of timelines and bounces back and forth between them, which kept things interesting and put the pieces of the plot together nicely. I found myself not wanting to put this one down at all, which is always a lovely feeling.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my gifted copy!

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is a captivating novel set in a rural countryside that alternates between the past and present, with multiple timelines weaving through the narrative. The book dives deep into a love story intertwined with a mystery, complete with a plot twist that keeps you turning the pages. It’s a definite page-turner that captures attention from start to finish.

With its emotional depth and twists, it’s no surprise that Broken Country has become one of the buzziest books on Bookstagram. In fact, it already feels like the kind of story that’s destined for a movie adaptation. At its heart, it’s a tale of heartbreak, with the kind of emotional resonance that lingers long after you finish the book.

While the novel is engaging, there are moments where it feels a bit far-fetched and predictable, relying on familiar tropes that might feel cliché to some readers. It’s a book full of well-worn conventions, making it a typical pick for a book club, but it doesn’t detract from the overall enjoyment. Broken Country is undeniably full of feels, offering an immersive experience that allows you to completely lose yourself in its world.

Broken Country is a beautifully emotional read with characters you can’t help but feel deeply connected to and writing that will absolutely knock your socks off. There is no question why this book is getting so much hype!

This story is told using multiple timelines which I found to be a very effective way of unraveling this mystery and getting to know the lives of the characters. The trial chapters sprinkled throughout kept me on the edge of my seat, I HAD to know what happened!

The ending of this story is one of the best I’ve ever read! The way the author pieced everything together was nothing short of masterful - my heart was broken into a million little pieces and then glued back together within the final few pages. Goosebumps and butterflies all around.

Personally, there were some aspects of the novel that I just couldn’t overlook and this impacted my reading experience and overall how much I enjoyed this story but it was still a book I would recommend to the majority!

I will be SHOCKED if Reese doesn’t turn this one into a movie and I’ll likely be there in the front row with my mother and grandma who I already know will be HUGE fans of this book!

A love triangle/mystery novel set in the late ‘60’s, this is perfect for fans of a great sweeping relationship saga.

This is a book that’s tough to review as I don’t want to give too much away. It’s much better to go in blind to this one imo.

I enjoyed the strong imagery of this story, and while I determined one of the twists early one, I was stunned by the one at the end. I will definitely look forward to more from the author.

On another note, one of the main themes in this book is possible infidelity, and while I know this is a troublesome plot point for a lot of readers, I am personally comfortable with reading books that don’t align with my own values.

Pick this one up if you’re in a reading slump or want a great binge read!

I’m probably one of the few readers not raving about this book enough to give it five stars. It could have just been the mood I was in while reading. I loved the story, and the characters will tug at your heartstrings; the novel is beautifully written and successfully weaves several genres, including mystery, family drama, and historical fiction. The only reason I didn’t give it a full five stars is that I don’t usually enjoy books that deal with the tragic loss of a child, and I guessed at all the story’s mysteries that others found shocking. Still a solid four star rating and this will be the first book pick for a recent book club my friends and I have started! I would recommend Broken Country to others, especially those who enjoyed Where the Crawdads Sing. Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

What a great surprise this book was! I suspect it will be one of 2025’s bestsellers.

The story follows Beth and her relationship with two men, Gabriel, a well-to-do writer, and Frank, a local farmer. The story takes place in a dual timeline: we meet Beth in 1955 when she first meets Gabriel, and then again in 1968, when she is married to Frank and they are struggling to heal from the death of their only son. When Gabriel returns to town with his own son, Beth is forced to confront her doubts and navigate the impact of her uncertainty on both families.

It’s a complex (yet simple) story that is hard to summarize; it’s a mix between a love story, family drama, court drama, and murder mystery… all set in a small close-knit English countryside town.

I loved Hall’s writing style. Simple short chapters that draw you in from the first page. I also loved her storytelling approach. The book is written in such a way that you are left wondering, until midway through the book, which of the characters was killed, and who is being accused of the murder. When you find out, you are surprised, heartbroken and confused… how did this particular murder end up happening? It doesn’t make sense!

This book has several unexpected twists and turns that I did not see coming but that all made sense in the end. I strongly encourage it for anyone who gravitates to literary or family fiction but loves a bit of mystery along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

*Broken Country* by Clare Leslie Hall is a gripping blend of love, mystery, and suspense. Beth's seemingly perfect life with her husband, Frank, is shattered when her first love, Gabriel, returns to their village with his young son, triggering buried emotions and secrets. As tensions rise, Beth must confront her past and make an impossible choice. The novel masterfully toggles between past and present, exploring love, loss, and the dangerous consequences of unresolved desires. With a shocking twist and unforgettable characters, *Broken Country* is a must-read for fans of *Where the Crawdads Sing* and *The Paper Palace*.

Wow, this historical fiction debut set in the 1960s was getting crazy buzz and I finally understand why!!! I flew through this book about an unconventional love story, second chances, grief, loss and tragedy. It's best to dive into this one pretty blind and just go along for the ride. I promise your emotions will be all over the place and there's a great couple twists at the end!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This was also good on audio narrated by Hattie Morahan and perfect for fans of books like Ask again, yes by Mary Beth Keane.

CW: tragic loss of a young child, gun violence

4.5 stars

I was so excited to get my hands on this one before pub day! I kept seeing glowing reviews for it. This story was emotional with complex relationships, secrets with past and present timelines. There was one thing that I didn’t love about this one, but the ending redeemed it for me.

Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Canada | Simon & Schuster for my e copy arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you are looking for your next emotional read, this book is it.

This book is so beautifully written. I absolutely devoured it in 24 hours. I couldn't put it down. It's a love story, but it's historical fiction, but it also has elements of a suspense and thriller... It is powerful and heartbreaking and completely captivating. A must-read for fans of The Paper Palace and Where The Crawdads Sing.

I don't want to give too much away as this is a book you will want to experience. There's a married woman. There's the husband she loves. There's a lost love returning. There's a child and there isn't. There's grief, and there's passion, and then something terrible happens that threatens to ruin everything. You will cycle through every emotion while reading this book.

Why wasn't it a 5 read read for me?

I've been told before that I am a very black and white person and I have trouble with books where characters are not truthful or knowingly cause pain to others- it stops me from fully enjoying a book, but I recognize this is a ME problem. I buddy read this with a few other book readers, and they absolutely LOVED it, and it has been receiving glowing reviews from EVERYONE.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my physical copy in exchange for my honest review.

Broken Country is a publishes at the beginning of March, and it’s a book that I think you’ll be seeing a lot of. Apparently @hellosunshine has already secured the film rights, so I imagine it will be the Reese pick for March?

After seeing a handful of five star reviews, I was eagerly anticipating reading this. It’s a bit of a genre bender- part historical fiction (taking place in the 1960’s) with some romance and courtroom drama as well. I liked how the book was structured, moving between past and present kept the pace moving, and there were some twists I wasn’t expecting. I think for me, I just tend to feel uneasy with love triangle scenarios- just can’t always get behind them. Plus, the actions of the MC at times left me feeling frustrated, although I did appreciate that she did take accountability for the messy situation she found herself in.

So my verdict on this one is- more of a like than a love. But I do think there will be a lot of love for it when it publishes next month.

🎀 ARC Review 🎀

PUB Date: March 3rd 2025

My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ All the stars !

Oh where do I start and how do I do this review spoiler free 🤔

I loved this book!!

This book made me cry more than once , and that rarely happens.

Told through 3 timelines back and forth and done very well.

This is a love story triangle that had me rooting for everyone, how is that possible 🤷🏻‍♀️

There is tragedy and serendipity healing ❤️‍🩹

There is someone on trial and accused of murder but we don’t know who it is ..

This is a story that is thought provoking in a way that questioned my morals .

This is a beautifully told unique love story 💕

This possibly will be in my top 10 reads for 2025 !

If you’re looking for a captivating love story that the author dances us around tiny little bread crumbs scattered throughout the story setting the pace keeping you gripped to the very end , then add this to your TBR I promise you’ll enjoy this one 🫶🏼

Thank you NetGalley, Simon & Schuster & Clare Leslie Hall for this delightful ARC ❤️

A strong page-turner where the setting almost becomes a character.

The cover copy says it’s “perfect for fans of THE PAPER PALACE and WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING” and that couldn’t be more true.

Synopsis: Beth and Frank are happily married and farm in a small village community along with Frank’s brother, Jimmy. They have no idea that their lives are about to implode when Beth’s old boyfriend, Gabriel (who years ago broke her heart and drove her into Frank’s arms) returns to the village with his young son, Leo. Beth is immediately drawn to Leo as he is about the same age that her son, Bobby was when he was tragically killed on the farm. Tensions start to rise between these parties until a shooting occurs and a trial begins.

My thoughts: I was blown away by this book. I immediately fell into the pages and found it very difficult to put down. I was totally invested in the characters and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to find out the truth of what happened. I also liked how the author drew out the story line of the murder in that the reader doesn’t find out until approximately two-thirds of the way into the book as to who is killed and who is on trial for it. It is a book about love, grief, forgiveness and atonement. I loved it and gave it 5/5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for a review copy.

Wow! This novel has all the feels! I am going to be honest it took me a bit to get into this book (as I read the first part in small bits of time and I think I didn't get all of the details). I am so glad that I kept going! This story of family, love, loss and a murder trial on top of it all kept me guessing. It is told in a dual timeline and the twists at the end shocked me! Put this historical fiction at the top of your TBR, you won't be disappointed!

Thank you Net Galley, Clare Leslie Hall and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to preview this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Broken Country is expected to be released March 4, 2025.