Beth, now a farmer's wife, is thrown back into the memories and long lasting tentacles of first love,, when her brother in law shoots a dog which happens to belong to the son of the man she first loved as a young girl.
Gabriel, now an accomplished and successful author, suits emotions in Beth that she believed yo be non-existent.
The story goes back and forth between past and present as it wends its way through strife and tensions within her village.
Characters are okay but not remarkable, for me, and the back and forth toggle gets a bit
wearing at times.
Easy read but not a classic.

Following the story of Beth, Frank.& Gabriel was heartbreaking and beautiful all at the same time. It’s been quite some time since I’ve loved a book so much!! Well done!

This is one of those books that you will read very quickly!

I heard a review from someone else that this book has Where The Crawdads Sing vibes (without the suspicious origins) and I’d agree they are very similar type of read without having any similarities in setting, characters and plot.

Broken County is a stunning US debut that had me hooked from beginning to end. Clare Leslie Hall has established herself as an auto-read author for me with just one book, because this one has everything. Broken Country is the story of Beth and the two men she loves. Stay with me here, I'm not a big fan of love triangles either. It also has a mystery, personal secrets, and compelling character development.

This book is beautifully written and perfectly paced for a literary drama. Some chapters are from "before," some from 1968, and some from "the trial." Hall slowly reveals Beth's heartbreaking story and uses each of these timelines so effectively to build character depth and propel the story forward.

I'd recommend going into this one without much knowledge; dive in and get to know these characters. If you enjoyed Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson or Mercury by Amy Jo Burns, I think this is an excellent pick for you. This book wowed me and had me in tears.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e-arc of Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

This is a Historical Fiction or Mystery novel. 4.5*; a family drama/love triangle.


Synopsis:
"The farmer is dead. He is dead and all anyone wants to know is who killed him. When her 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 all those years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son Bobby, who died a few years earlier. As Beth is pulled back into Gabriel and Leo’s lives, tensions around the village rise, and jealousy rears its ugly head. Beth and her gentle and kind husband Frank are happily married, but they have their fair share of secrets, and their relationship relies on the past staying buried. And when the truth begins to come out, events spiral out of control, 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, sexy 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."

Things I liked:
• The time-period/ the farm
• The main characters/ the family
• The ending

Things I disliked (if you can call it that):
• Tragic story
• The love triangle
• Loss triggers

I can see why this book's reviews compare it to Where the Crawdads Sing; I draw closer parallels to One For The Blackbird and One For The Crow; life can be tragically beautiful.

This book started off good, then got a little too slow for me, then around 65% got much better and I enjoyed it until the end. There were a lot of unexpected twists that kept me hooked. I'm giving it three stars because of the drop-off in enjoyment and also because I felt like it was hard to keep track of how much time passed in each chapter. I also couldn't really connect to the characters.

It took me a bit before I could write this review because I had to let my heart calm down first. Man, this book was like riding a rollercoaster of emotions because just when I thought I was "okayish", Hall hits me with another big hill to climb and come down off of.

I think books that are "real life" and so raw with emotion are more difficult to find these days and that's what I loved most about this book. The characters were believable and I felt like it could easily be someone I know. Be ready for your heart to be tugged in several directions, but it will all be worth it!

I already know this is going to be one of my top books of 2025! I cannot wait to read more by Clare Leslie Hall. Bring them on! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As I was finishing this book while standing in line to vote, I was grateful for the Kleenex in my purse! I did not expect this story to take me in as it did. The story starts off as a slow burn as you get to know the characters and who they are within the different timelines of the story, but before you know it, you are sucked into this story and will be surprised to look up and realize you are not on the Blakely farm with this family. Broken Country is a love story on a deeper level and as with any love story in a small country town, secrets abound and you will not see them coming! Highly recommend this compelling story that leaves you wanting to know more. Thank you for the e-arc!!

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is an unforgettable story that I am still thinking about. I felt so many different emotions while reading this book! I was drawn to the cover and name of this book immediately. On a normal day, a random dog runs into Beth and her husband Frank's farm and begins to attack the sheep. Her husband's brother has to put down the dog. Beth is shocked to see that the dog belongs to the man she loved as a teenager (Gabriel) and he has moved back to town. His son Leo reminds Beth of her son Bobby, who died a few years earlier. Ever so slowly, Beth is pulled back into Gabriel's life. The tension between Beth and Frank begins to climb. What happens next is earth-shattering for everyone involved.

This novel is told in dual timelines which ratchets up the gut-wrench factor. It keeps you guessing and has a thriller element, which I like. The romance and love aspect is more of a slow burn. It's like the author shows you both sides of the coin and I can't say more without giving anything away. The tenderness concerning the children made me tear up many times. This is a story that could happen in real life, to anyone you know.

Overall, I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. When a book makes you feel almost every emotion in the book so to speak, and you still think about it days later, that's a winner for me. I felt so many emotions reading this book. You will love this book if you like Where the Crawdads Sing or authors similar to Kristin Hannah. I recommend it!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

OMG I LOVED this book!! From the first chapter I was captivated, I adored the characters, the sex scenes were intensely hot yet not pornographic. The story is heartbreaking one minute and then uplifting the next. These characters are so well fleshed out that they will stay with you for a while. The writing feels raw and heartfelt. The landscapes are lush and make you feel like you are in the story. There is a twist that I NEVER expected but it made me love the book even more. The flashbacks flesh out the story and fill in the gaps way better than my imagination did. I hope this gets made into a movie because I’d watch it way more than once. It’s a story of loss, resilience and self re-discovery. I can’t recommend this book enough.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall.

Minor spoilers ahead, approach with caution.

Oof, I don't know how to feel about this one. It was a good story, a slow burn, very compelling, but the infidelity? Uuuuugh, I'm not a fan, it never hits me well, even when the love is deep and long abiding.

Frank and Gabriel were once young and deeply in love, but when Gabriel left her without much word, Beth ran into the arms of Frank. Sweet, stable Frank, who also always loved Beth, and the two quickly get married. But years later, when Frank's brother Jimmy shoots a stray dog getting at their lambs, Beth discovers that Gabriel is back, has a son, and is a famous author.

It doesn't take long for Beth and Gabriel to find each other again, a reunion cloaked in pain, tragedy, and a deep longing. But when the affair is discovered, it launches an even greater loss, one that reveals elements to their relationship that no one would expect.

I am all about a love story, and I'm empathetic to the "one that got away" plight too, but there's not much in my mind that excuses blatant cheating. It's still cheating, and someone is still hurt, and poor Frank! Sweet, long standing Frank, he was a martyr throughout the whole book. It broke my heart, and made it really hard to enjoy the story. Maybe that was the point though, digging into the nuance of it all.

Have you ever read a book that tore your heart out, kicked it across the floor, and then picked it up and put it back in place? No? Just me? Either way, Broken Country did just that. And honestly, I don’t know if I even have the words to express the emotions of this book. Give me a week to process all these feelings and I will likely have more to say ha!

Thank you to Simon Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie pulls you in with its vivid landscapes and raw, heartfelt storytelling. The author’s ability to capture the rugged beauty of the setting while delving into deep emotional themes makes this a compelling read. It’s a story of resilience, loss, and self-discovery, with characters that linger in your thoughts long after. Leslie balances the grit and grace of her characters so well, making it an engaging journey worth every page.

Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall asks the question can a woman love 2 men at the same time. Beth is happily married to Frank but then Gabriel, first teenage love reenters her life. A wonderful read with great characters and a really good storyline! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A wonderfully happy married woman is in mourning after the tragic death of her son. But then.....her first love moves back to the small village and turns everyone's life upside down.

While this sounds a lot...chipper than it truly is. This is quiet book. While there is a sense of danger throughout each page, Clare Leslie Hall is about to capture the peacefulness of a small village. The love triangle at the core of this book is heavy and essentially, the entire plot of the story, but the atmosphere that is created is so well-written that it was a pleasure to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall caught my attention from the first chapter and kept me coming back for more. These characters will stay with you long after you have finished the book.
Beth and Frank live a simple farm life. Frank's brother has finally met the perfect woman and they are to be married. Life is good. One day, to protect their sheep, Frank's brother shoots a neighbor's dog and their world is never the same. The dog's owner was Gabriel, a man from Beth's past. Once a young couple, the relationship ended before it should have. With Gabriel back in Beth's life, so much comes to light and many lives will never be the same.
Beautiful characters, beautiful setting, beautiful writing. I loved every minute of this book. This book was sad at times. You can feel the love and emotion between these characters. I would highly recommend Broken Country to all of my reading friends. I would love to read other works by Clare Leslie Hall in the future. 5 BIG stars for me! Special thanks to NetGalley, Clare Leslie Hall, and Simon & Schuster for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

😮‍💨😭This book…when I say I cried, I mean that I cried.
It had me feeling what the characters were feeling. I felt the heartache. I felt the love and I felt the intense passion between them.

This is a story about Beth, Frank, and a past that comes walking back into their lives. One event changes everything.

There are flashback chapters that bring everything together.

I chose this book because of the cover and I didn’t read what it was about. I feel that I have more of a candid reaction this way instead of a predisposed opinion based on a nutshell summary.

Honestly, I hope this is made into a movie. 5 stars.

I received an #ARC from #NetGalley and Simon & Schuster. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Publication: March 4, 2025.
#BrokenCountry #ClareLeslieHall

Young love, loss, a torrid affair, and a murder trial shape this quick and emotional read. Told through dual timelines, the past and present paint the story of a young love torn apart too soon, the loss of a child driving a wedge between a loving couple, alcoholism tearing apart brothers, and a boy whose mother is an ocean away bringing his father and his first love back together. A torrid love affair ensues and someone ends up murdered. A beautiful and emotional story with a twist I didn’t see coming, though I am so angry at the protagonist and her deplorable behavior. This is much more of a love triangle than a whodunit or mystery, but the twist at the end was a surprise.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Broken Country" is a poignant and gripping exploration of resilience and survival set against the backdrop of a changing landscape. The author skillfully weaves together personal stories and broader themes of loss, identity, and the struggle for belonging, creating a narrative that resonates deeply. The characters are richly drawn, each grappling with their own demons while navigating a world that feels increasingly fractured. While the pacing can occasionally falter, the emotional depth and vivid descriptions of the setting more than compensate, immersing readers in the heart of the story. Overall, this novel offers a compelling reflection on the complexities of life and the bonds that hold us together, earning a solid four stars for its heartfelt storytelling and evocative prose.

I was so pulled into this book from page one and all the way though. I am not a romance reader per se but this one was full of relationships and drama and overall thrilling. It was full of people who felt real and their lives, loves and feelings are on full display. This is the kind of book that draws you in and will take you in a journey. And I for one loved the journey. I read a NetGalley version of this book