What I enjoyed about the book: The mystery aspect and wanting to find out what happened is the only thing that kept me reading. I liked the way the author ended the book.
What I didn’t like about the book: The timeline was slow and hard to follow and it took at least half of the book for me to start to find it interesting. I found it difficult to get invested in the characters.
Giving this 3 stars. While a lot of it didn't work for me, I managed to get through it in a timely manner.

I'm in the minority on this one. It might have been a better experience for me, if I had read it versus listened to it. It just seemed very long and drawn out. I didn't feel any sort of connection to the characters until the end. I will add a caveat, I was discussing it with friends later and hearing their thoughts made me like the book more. I could understand their perspective and see how they found it more engaging than I did.

3.5 stars

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story tied #1 on my list of BEST books read so far this year! I love a good classic, and this is sure to become one.

I was immersed in the characters and their lives. There is deep love in different ways. There is loss of a child and attempting to heal. There is familial heritage and love.

This is a masterpiece narrative with in-depth characters beautifully interwoven with complex relationships.

Thank you, NetGalley and Simon & Schuster, for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#netgalley #BrokenCountry #GeneralFiction ##WomensFiction #Romance #MysteryandThriller

This book.. wow.. First off, thank you Netgalley for an ARC of Reeses newest book club pick. When a dog runs into a herd of sheep viciously attacking them and gets shot, no one has any idea the course of events that will follow. The owner of the farms wife Beth realizes that the owner of the dog is her first love that she never truly got over. While this story plays out, we also go back to when they were young and in love, in addition to a trial that is happening in present day, but we have no idea the crime or who is on trial. This book makes you realize that every action you take in life has an effect on those closest to. you. The symmetry of the events in this novel come so perfectly together at the end, it honestly took my breath away.

I'm calling it - this may end up being my favorite book of 2025! This was beautifully written, propulsive, emotional, and all the things! I loved every single character, even when they were making decisions I didn't agree with, I understood their reasoning for those decisions.

I am blown away by this book. I literally had to sit for 5 minutes after I finished it to let myself just bawl and then collect myself so I could function like a normal person again. I loved every single minute!

I cannot wait to see what this author does next!

I still don't know I feel about this one..........I don't think Beth is the villain, I think it's Gabriel. Frank is innocent in my mind. I did love the ending

Wow - all I can say is that this is definitely my favorite read of the year (so far)! This will make a great movie.
* 4.5 stars *

I found this book to be extremely engaging and immersive in some ways. I really liked the atmosphere in the book and how the solitude becomes a character in some ways, I think that there was some lack of depth in the characters that somehow let them glaze over the reality of the marital relationship and what it was built upon. It is almost like the relationship was so weak that it could be knocked over with a feather, however there was supposedly an intensity that left them clawing for each other nightly. It made for a good read, however it kept me from really becoming attached to the characters. The ending was a bit cut and dried for me, however I did enjoy it for what it was. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

First and foremost I received an E-arc via NetGalley.

Simply incredible! I had no idea what I was getting into. I typically don’t read stories like this and was blown away by its ability to keep me glued to the pages. Great story writing with some lovable and extremely non lovable characters. Read it from start to finish. It’ll definitely shock you.

What I liked: Guessing who was on trial for what, and the twist at the end I didn’t see coming.

What didn’t work for me: The timeline was hard to follow (even as a physical read) and it took at least half of the book for it to get interesting. The major plot point is one that never works for me, the love triangle went way too far.

This emotionally charged historical mystery is perfect for readers who are captivated by stories that explore the intricate dynamics of family relationships, the profound impact of choices made in the past, and the secrets that can haunt generations. As the narrative unfolds, readers will be transported to a bygone era, where they will witness the complexities of human nature and the enduring power of love, loss, and redemption.

Set in the English countryside during the late '60s, Broken Country focuses on three main characters: Beth Johnson, her husband Frank and her first love, Gabriel who has returned to the area with his young son following his recent divorce.

The author reveals early on that someone has been murdered and someone is being tried for that murder, but their identities are unknown until nearly the end of the book. This kept me invested and certainly had me guessing as to how things were going to turn out. The ending was a bit too neat and tidy; however, there were definitely some surprises along the way that I had not expected and did genuinely add more depth to the storyline.

Broken Country was a big disappointment for me. Glamorizing a love triangle that brought so much hurt, tragedy, deceit and heartache to so many good people is not what I consider an entertaining read. This was a Reese's Book Club choice so I was expecting so much more.

Wow. This is up there with my favorites of the year, so far. An emotional, pulling novel. I loved the characters- flaws and all. I found my feelings and perspectives changing for each of the characters throughout the story. I thought I knew where the story was going, but it took me elsewhere and ripped out my heart. I'm going to need to sit with this one awhile and process it. It was a combination of the writing styles of Where the Crawdads Sing and the books of William Kent Kruger- at least the worlds felt similar to me.

This book tells the story of a woman caught in a love triangle when her first love comes back to town. The family dynamics and secrets lead to a murder that tears apart two families. It was written so beautifully that your heart ached for Beth as she tried to navigate the love she had for both men in her life while also dealing with the grief of losing her son. Partly love story, partly mystery and partly the journey of emotional healing this is a book I will be recommending to all who love a good story.

WOWZER. This book was excellent. I went into it blind and was not disappointed at all. The characters and character development were executed so well. A beautiful story of loss love and life. 5 star read!

This was an emotionally complicated story about a farmer's wife who upturns her own life, and that of her family, when her first love and heartbreak returns to their tiny rural town.
This book illustrates how one person's poor decisions can have far-reaching, and possibly devastating, consequences.
There were several timelines happening here, but it was easy enough to follow.
Thanks to #netgalley and #simonandschuster for this #arc of #brokencountry by #clarelesliehall in exchange for an honest review.

Broken Country would be appreciated by fans of THE THORN BIRDS or Kate Morton's HOMECOMING, I think. This is a book where the houses/estates/farms are characters of their own and you easily get swept up in all the drama and day to day happenings. A story that, at first, I didn't know if it would underwhelm me (because everybody and their mother seemed to be enjoying it) so I had to try it...and boy am I ever glad I picked this one up! A beautiful love triangle, told in such a believable way, where characters are indeed very human and all wrestle with their individual demons. Being a mother myself I was able to empathize with our main character and the death of her son evoked real emotion and heartbreak on my part. This book read fast and it was also informative! I love being able to learn something while reading and the life on the farm was very interesting to me. This was a fantastic book and I will not soon forget it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨(4.5/5)

“Is there any way you and I can be friends?”

“Ours was a complicated tale with many pieces to fit together. All of us were to blame in someway –– Gabriel and me, Frank, Leo, and Jimmy, too. Everyone played a part in the tragedy. And everything was about Bobby, really, when you dug deep enough.”

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Audio for my #gifted copy of this one, which I also purchased via #bookofthemonth. This was also a pick for Reece’s Book Club.

Book Vibes: Earth shattering secrets come to light. Old romances are rekindled. Misunderstandings become understandings. Relationships stolen. Bonds broken. This book is the ultimate book for people who love POVs and ethical questions…this is a book for anyone who has ever been through a hard time or rough patch…that is to say….its for everyone.

I will say it did take me a minute to get settled into it but that’s because this isn’t my typical genre. This had a nice blend of character development and plot. I can’t imagine having to be the MC (Beth) or anywhere near her orbit, with the black cloud seemingly looming over her all the time.

It was a sad story but also comforting in a way that shows you how family both blood and not, can come together despite their differences in selfless acts.

I could easily see this one as a movie. At first I didn’t think it would live up to the hype for me but I can see why it has so many good reviews. I absolutely recommend it.

Broken Country is such an emotional heartbreaking story. Love and loss are woven throughout the entire story, in many unexpected ways. I am crushed by this story and it will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Wow! This book, that ending! 😭
Twists and turns, romance, murder, heartbreaking loss, a mother’s love, and so much more, this story truly has it all! Once I was in, I couldn’t put this one down.

I also really enjoyed the format of this book. Flipping back and forth on the timeline really helped me get inside of Beth’s head and understand what led her to make the choices that she did. The character development was great and the love triangle had me so conflicted. Overall, an easy quick read that kept things interesting through the very end. Highly recommend!