This is an emotional story following Beth, a young woman in North Dorset, England. Chapters alternate between timelines, one in 1955 when teenaged Beth meets and falls in love with Gabriel Wolfe, and one in 1968 when she is married to a farmer named Frank Johnson. Interspersed are also chapters showcasing a murder trial occurring after the other timelines, although who is on trial for whose murder is not made clear until near the end.

There is a touching story here about relationships before and after the loss of a child, both broken relationships and healing ones. A love of the natural world is on display in the writing. I found the parts describing infidelity difficult to read, but everyone at least winds up addressing their wrongdoings. Beth's complicated feelings and the looming murder we know is going to happen create a tense atmosphere set against the simple pleasures of the pastoral setting and the love for a child.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC of this moving story in exchange for my unbiased review.

CW: death of a child, infidelity

This is a book that has stayed with me since I finished it, the characters always in the back of my mind. Complicated, emotional, and just so good from beginning to end. Definitely a book I will be forcing on others.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If this isn’t the hottest book club pick of 2025, I’ll be shocked! This historical fiction novel follows Beth Johnson through the twists & turns of her relationships & heartbreaks and I couldn’t put it down! I also loved the English countryside setting. Read this book!

I read this in one day it was so engaging. The plotting and reveals/twists were perfectly doled out to keep you invested. The depiction of the English country and first love were beautiful, but I do feel like there was something, and I can't really put my finger on it, that was missing. But I am very much looking forward to more from this author, and found this an engrossingband unexpectedly dark yet hopeful novel.

Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a moment since I've tackled an ARC, and I am really glad I started back up with Broken Country. This is a story about a love triangle that takes a tragic turn. Hall examines how our first loves affect us, and in some cases haunts us, well after it has come and gone. She also raises the infamous question of, "If you could do it all over again, would you?".

Broken Country is set in the 1960s and 1970s in the UK, and the way Hall describes Blakely Farm and the Meadowlands really captures the reader. You feel as though you are right alongside Beth as she finds herself caught up in love and heartache. When Beth's brother-in-law shoots a dog that is attacking their sheep, they have no idea how their lives are about to change. The dog belongs to Beth's long ago teenage love, whom she has not seen since they broke up over a decade before. Gabriel has returned home to Meadowlands with his son, Leo. The Johnson family, Beth, her husband Frank, and brother-in-law Jimmy, all feel a sense of dread at this sudden revelation. There is a long, secret history between Beth, Frank, and Gabriel. One that Jimmy is aware of and does not enjoy revisiting. While it is a shock to have Gabriel within a stones throw again, Beth feels their past start to reignite. Before Beth can ask herself if this love triangle is worth reigniting, it becomes too late. Someone has died, and it all comes back to her first love.

I adored Hall's character development throughout the entirety of the book. Each character is lovable and relatable in their own way. She paints such a delicate story of loss and love, and the mystery of what happens next keeps you turning the pages. The ending was surprisingly emotional for me, and it was just the cherry on top of this book. I will be recommending this to others as soon as it hits the shelves.

I deeply enjoyed this emotional story of love in its many forms. There is a love triangle that culminates in an explosive act, but the novel is paced more liken to literary suspense, rather than a thriller. The slower pacing allows for thorough character development and thoughtful commentary on marriage and motherhood. Readers that enjoy books like, Go as a River and All the Colors of the Dark, with likely enjoy this character-driven story with a conflict at its center than unfolds expertly and unexpectedly.

WOW WOW WOW. This is going to be all over the internet in 2025. Easily one of the best books that I read this year. SO good! I can't wait to see this book take off!

I was not hooked immediately. The time jumps that alternate were a bit scattered. Beautifully written though.

Wow, I won’t forget this book anytime soon. The ending had me 😭. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

I am a reader that is drawn to books by the cover. This one grabbed me and pulled me in by the beautiful manor on the front. The life and love story of Beth and Frank, the tragedy and aftermath of the death of her beloved son and the power of first love are the draw in this book. This is a love story and a thriller. It will keep you turning the pages to find out what has happened in when Beth's first love comes back to the country side and the fallout that they all endure. This book for me was a 4.5 stars!
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really don’t know if I have the words! Honestly when o first shafted reading I was hesitant as I thought it may be going into historical fiction territory. Thankfully that was not the case at all.

I so want to thank Simon Schuster Publishing for reaching out with the opportunity to read and review this book for free as I might not have discovered it otherwise.

This book was heartbreaking yet enjoyable. It’s the type of read that can have be you in tears several times whilst reading it.
The author has a unique writing style.. the way I would describe it would be staccato as the prose is matter of fact with short chapters but it works for the very heavy material .

This is a definite must read got 2025 so get it on your TBR now! The book comes out March 4, 2025

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This one really had a huge impact on me. At times, it felt like a Shakespearian tragedy. And a couple of times I wanted to throw the novel across the room. (Which always means it’s written well.) Heartbreak. That’s what I’m feeling, but having said all that it does have an HEA! I thought it was well written and pretty cleanly written as books go these days. 5⭐️
Thanks Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.

I loved every page of this literary suspense novel. Hall’s writing is beautiful, evocative and concise. Her characters are flawlessly described—the love she has for each one is so clear, and it made my reading experience unforgettable. This novel is gorgeous and heartbreaking, with the most haunting English countryside setting. It will absolutely be in my top ten of 2025, and I cannot WAIT to sell it!

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is a tense drama centering on a farmer's wife, Beth and her family. Unexpectedly, Beth's high school sweetheart returns and sends Beth's life into a tailspin. Told in alternating timelines, Broken Country will keep you reading with plenty of twists and turns. This would make a great book for a book club with a lot to discuss. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced digital copy.

If you are someone who loves heart break and tragedy this one is for you. It's definitely outside of my normal read, but I think it was overall very well written. I especially enjoyed the timeline and how the author chose to jump back and forth between modern day and flashbacks to the past. There were a few things that I think were supposed to be major twists, but I feel like you can see them coming. I have a lot of thoughts, but I will discuss those below to not jump too deep into spoilers.

My rating: 3 stars

I’d like to thank Clare Leslie Hall and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this ARC.

**Spoiler warning**

I don't know what made me more upset, the fact that this book just feels like one harsh blow after the next or the fact that at the end it feels like there was no reason for it all. I am not a huge fan of the miscommunication trope, but it's difficult to finish this book and know that if Beth and Gabriel had just had one honest discussion during or post break up so much unhappiness and death could have been avoided. I also cannot wrap my head around why Beth decided to throw another child on top of everything at the end of this book like it would magically help heal the rift caused between her and Frank. My major take away is justice for Frank! He lost his brother, he lived his life in Gabriel's shadow in more ways than one, he martyrs himself and at the end it still feels like Beth stays with him out of loyalty rather than love. There was just so much grief and loss in this book, I truly do not understand how they could realistically heal and move forward after all the layers of trauma: the resentment caused from the loss of bobby, the infidelity and lies, the death and incarceration, and the addition of another child without discussion. Also, three accidental deaths in one family on the same farm, someone should call OSHA because they have a major problem. I don't think this book was my cup of tea.

BROKEN COUNTRY is a beautifully written family saga. I highly recommend it for fans of literary fiction and emotional family dramas. I like how the author introduces us to the characters, and the back and forth timeline works well. Even with its somewhat leisurely pace, the story continued to keep my interest. I really enjoyed Hall's writing. This is a well-crafted story, and the love triangle at the center of the story brings up some painful truths for the characters.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

I requested this one because one of the buyer's at our store is obsessed with it. It's a good book and I think will be an easy sell to customers because it has all the elements of the kind of book that is universally enjoyed--not breaking the mold but a compelling story with fleshed out characters and good writing.

The cover, title and description on NetGalley really intrigued me to request a copy of this book. After reading, I am not sure I am a fan of the title. The timeline layout was confusing at times, I found myself thinking "wait, where are we at in the storyline?" I found it to be relatable and also predictable at times. Overall, I did enjoy reading it.

This book took me a couple of chapters to get into, but once it started to flow....WOW, I was hooked,. The back and forth time line, while confusing at first, truly helped build the plot and the characters. Some reviewers have said the book has a "Where the Crawdads Sing" vibe, and I completely agree, Totally different plot, but same feel.
Not all the characters were likable, and some took some getting used to, but all were well developed and played important roles within the storyline. The plot moved fast and kept changing, keeping me guessing as to what was going to happen and who was going to be responsible.
A must read for those who love a good drama/mystery/family/love triangle
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Broken Country
by Clare Leslie Hall
Pub Date: Mar 04 2025

The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.”

Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn’t realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident.

As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel’s life, tensions around the village rise and dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface, this time with deadly consequences. Beth is forced to make a choice between the woman she once was, and the woman she has become.

A sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller, Broken Country is a novel of simmering passion, impossible choices, and explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far-reaching legacy of first love.