Wow, this book was completely out of the norm for me and I absolutely loved every moment of reading it! It sucked me in from the very first page and, surprisingly, I didnt guess the last 20%! Fab and I plan to buy a physical copy up9j release.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley

I was skeptical at first reading this due to the timeframe of the book setting, it’s from the 1960s. But let me tell you, this book was a roller coaster of emotions with each turn of the page. The tears I shed was not expected! I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it. It deserves its 5 stars and more!

This is a love story, a story shared over the years as they pass, but filled with moments that are set in a small village, where one might assume nothing much happens. But they would be wrong. It is, in part, a story of neighbors, of family, of first love, loss, a farmer whose life is upended, as well as a tangled web of twists and turns.

Set in farming country, I wasn’t expecting so many twists and turns in this relatively small village, but this story pulled me in fairly early on. There is a mysterious aura that seems to deepen as the story proceeds, but slowly, and realistically. There are also relationships that ebb and flow, as well as ‘secret’ relationships.

A story of love, loss & family.


Pub Date: 04 Mar 2025


Many thanks for the ARC provided by Simon & Schuster

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of Broken Country!

We follow dual timelines in 1955 and 1968. Beth and Gabriel meet in 1955 as teenagers in a small town and fall in love. Their romance falls apart until they are reunited in 1968 when Beth is the wife of a farmer, Frank. A love triangle ensues and leaves a path of devastation in its wake, including a murder trial that unfolds throughout the story.

Broken Country is a heart wrenching story about love and loss and forgiveness. At no point did I know what to expect next and every twist broke my heart a little more. Every character in this story was so real and loveable and flawed that I struggled to pick sides. I will be thinking about Beth and her family for a very long time. This is the type of story that sticks with you.

I appreciate NetGalley and Simon & Schuster letting me read an advanced copy of Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall. This was the most compulsively readable books I've experienced in a long time. I was hooked from the first chapter and the pages basically turned themselves! It has fully formed characters and a setting so beautifully written it seems like a character itself. There's romance, tragedy, and a bit of suspense. Throughout the book I found myself wondering things like "Was he..." and "Why are they..." but dismissed those questions until the the very end as the puzzle pieces at last clicked into place.

Perfect book to start the New Years grabbed me from the opening pages.This is an emotional roller coaster of a story a book I could not put down and didn’t want to end.Wonderfully written with characters that come alive..#netgalley #brokencountry

This was an emotional rollercoaster of a book with several dramatic twists at the end. TW for child’s death, just gut-wrenching.

Wow! This story grabbed me from the start and then I couldn't put it down. Claire Leslie Hall's US debut is fast paced, sweeping love triangle that spans many years. It has as many twists as a thriller but it is a love story set in a small English farming village. It is also a mystery. Everyone in the village just wants to know who killed a farmer. The character development is so deep that I feel like I know these people so well. The twists keep coming until the end of the book. I so enjoyed this book. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I went into this book completely blind. I was surprised at how it kept me on the edge of my seat constantly trying to figure out what happened.

This book sparked so many emotions. Following not only the plot of the book but walking through the characters grief journey & seeing how they came through kept me in my feelings.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #BrokenCountry #ClareLesleyHall

Omg I loved ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ this sweeping love story. This is the best book I’ve read in a long time! This is raw, emotional, full of love, heartbreak, hope and secrets. Thank you @netgalley for the ARC. Marked your calendars for March 4th and add it to your TBR list. This story will stay with me for a long time. A love triangle like no other.

When a dog runs onto, and is subsequently killed on the Johnson farm, Beth Johnson is suddenly face to face with her first love, Gabriel, and his young son, Leo. As Beth navigates the muddy waters of beginning an unlikely friendship with Gabriel and Leo, the complex past between Beth, her husband Frank, and Gabriel slowly unfolds.
Broken Country is compelling from the first page. Clare Leslie Hall paints such vivid imagery of Hemston's village and land, the animals, and the deeply flawed and complicated array of people within. I ached for Beth, Gabriel, and Frank as they navigated their tangled pasts and wrestled with how to exist in their uniquely fraught realities.
Through Beth, Lewis offers beautiful commentary on motherhood and marriage, love, loss, and sacrifice.
Broken Country was captivating and heartbreaking, a book I'll be thinking about for weeks!

5 ⭐️ This book was an emotional ride from the beginning. The writing is beautiful and the characters are real and engaging. Would love to see this come to the screen!

Told in dual timelines, it follows the love story of Beth and Gabriel, she from a working class family and he from a rich one. When Gabriel goes away to college the relationship ends. Beth finds love again with Frank, a gentle farmer. Nothing good can come to Gabriel’s return to town. The setting is rural English farm country, a host of supporting characters add depth and color, Frank’s brother Jimmy and his girlfriend Nina, Beth’s son Bobby, Gabriel’s son Leo.

Not just a romance, there is loss , grief, a murder mystery and a trial. I was not expecting the twist near the end and loved the touching finish to the story.

Thanks NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

I really liked the premise of this book and looked forward to reading it. While I did enjoy the story, it was too slow for me and I just did not feel I was able to connect with these characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall.

This book was a wonderful begining of the year, read during a snowstorm, can't put down experience. Broken Country is at its most basic a love triangle. At times I was very frustrated with the main character. But she is human. The imagery, the time period, and the story all kept me turning the pages even while wishing I could savor each one. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This is a powerful book about forgiveness - both of others and ourselves. BROKEN COUNTRY has it all: passionate romance, betrayal, impossible choices, grief and loss - even courtroom drama.

On top of a compelling story, which truly does have the twists and pacing of a really good thriller, Clare Leslie Hall’s writing about love - both young, electric love and the deep, well-worn love of marriage - is beautiful. The way she writes about life on a farm is gorgeous. The characters are imperfect humans who make decisions I might not have, but that’s the beauty in the story.

I flew through the last quarter of this book because I simply had to know how it ended. This book squeezed my heart and kept me totally entertained. It’s an easy 5 star read for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Simon & Schuster for an early digital copy of BROKEN COUNTRY in exchange for my honest feedback.

An amazing book because:
1. Shows how emotion can be written in black and white text that pushes into the human heart.
2. The formatting of the book does a beautiful crescendo of time, telling of events, and development of relationships.
3. The character development. I felt so much heart for all of the characters. I ached for their losses.
4. The length was perfect. The pacing was right on.
5. The ending was a chef's kiss. One of the best endings I've ever read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the gifted e-ARC.

Wow! This book was absolutely amazing. Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book this good. It has me captivated and eagerly turning pages to find out what happens next. Romance, tragedy and deceit. It had spins and turns I never saw coming. What a fabulous story!

"Broken Country" by Clare Leslie Hall tackles heavy themes of love, loss, and tragedy, addressing sensitive topics such as child and animal death, alcoholism, and gun violence. Despite the emotional weight of the story, I found it challenging to connect with the narrative and characters. The pacing felt slow and meandering, and I struggled to stay engaged, often feeling more frustrated than moved by the unfolding tragedies. The predictability of the plot twists further detracted from the experience, making the story feel more like a setup than a natural progression.

That said, I recognize I’m in the minority. While the book didn’t resonate with me, I can see why it might deeply connect with other readers who appreciate its themes and emotional depth. Because of this, I’ll still recommend Broken Country during reader’s advisory, as I believe many will find it powerful and compelling.

Thank you to Clare Leslie Hall, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for sending me the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is an epic love story, filled with all the requisite secrets and betrayals found in sweeping romances. You'll feel for all the characters as they navigate through loss and grief, making decisions that forever change the trajectory of their lives. There are no bad guys here: only flawed humans navigating the chaos of love, second chances, and sacrifice. The ending was a bit expected, with a few surprises thrown in, and tied up a little too neatly, and not an ending I would have wanted, but all in all, a satisfying read. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

Thank you Netgalley for this arc. It was a mix of mystery/thriller and romance. It had me hooked the entire time. The battle the female main character had of who she once was and who she was now was very emotional. I gave this book a 5 stars.