Broken Country? More like brokenhearted and left with tears in my eyes.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book had me hooked from the beginning. I enjoyed the alternating timelines, but more than that, I love how you discovered what happened as you continued reading- okay, there is a murder trial and something is being covered up, but what happened? Then, you get a flashback into the characters' lives, then back to the present and a little more is revealed. It continues that way throughout, but it was seamless and captivating! I highly recommend!

Every once in a while, I pick up a book that blows me away. Broken Country is a sweeping love story wrapped in the suspense and pacing of a thriller, and I was completely hooked from page one. It’s a sweeping love story wrapped in the suspense and pacing of a thriller, and I was completely hooked from page one. Set against the wild beauty of the English countryside, this intimate, emotional novel had me utterly invested. I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters—they felt real, raw, and heartbreakingly human.

Beth’s impossible choices and the love triangle at the heart of the story are handled with such depth and elegance. The story brought me back to the nostalgic days of my first love—those messy, unforgettable moments that stay with you forever. The past and present intertwine seamlessly, building toward a shocking finale that left me devastated in the best way.

I loved the writing—it’s tender and expressive, yet packed with tension. The twists are amazing, the courtroom scenes pulse with drama, and the emotional payoff? Absolutely worth it. There’s heartbreak, grief, longing, and a whole lot of soul.

Five enthusiastic stars for this stunning American debut. Broken Country is both aching and thrilling, a novel I’ll be recommending to everyone I know. And yes—if the movie rumors are true, I’ll be there with popcorn.

** Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t really know this was a mystery when I started the book. It’s got historical fiction and literary fiction components, and at the heart, there is a mystery.

The characters are very well written and developed. The story moves well and even though it jumps through time and back again, it’s easy to navigate. I really enjoyed this tragic story, and I was even surprised by the twists.

Another brilliant #read that I can guarantee will be in my top #reads of 2025. Wow. I genuinely wasn’t sold on this one off of seeing the #bookcover alone, but the sheer amount of glowing #reviews convinced me to give it a try.

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I was blown away by this one. I thought it was beautiful, borderline poetic, devastatingly heartbreaking, grief filled, and addicting - with ingredients consisting of a hopeless love triangle, a #murdermystery, an idyllic English countryside setting, struggles and difficulties with marriage and parenthood, class and social discrepancies, dreams made, buried, and (some) achieved, and redemption and forgiveness - this one is truly a tour de force. I cried (a lot), I smiled, I felt the strongest feelings of almost painful nostalgia, heartache, and guilt, and I thought, thought, and thought some more about what I would do in Beth’s shoes.

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In 1960s rural England, Beth, a devoted and adoring wife and partner to her farmer husband and the land and animals they dedicate themselves, begins to feel her steady life slowly unravel as her first love, now a famous author she hasn’t seen in years, returns to the village they first met and fell in love with in what feels like an entirely different life altogether.

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As Beth navigates her longstanding grief and her complicated feelings for Gabriel, she finds herself caught amidst a tragedy of human errors, and at the center of a murder trial. Meanwhile, the story delves into Beth’s past and the roads and choices that have led her to her questionable fate, a fate in the hands of a jury.

Broken Country was an amazing novel. I really felt for Beth and her family. I loved reading about the strong bonds between Beth and her family members. The timeline jumps presented in the novel allowed for a sense of mystery that had me guessing and wanting to read more. I could not put this one down! This would be a great read for someone who enjoys character-driven novels.

“The farmer is dead. He is dead, and all anyone wants to know is who killed him.” Now that's an explosive way to start a book! What I thought would be a mystery ended up a heartbreaking love story of Beth and the men she loves, and also with the family she loves. Heartbreaking, but in a good way. Beth's story is guaranteed to make you feel lots of feelings. There were times I wanted to cry, but I also felt contentment and happiness too as I read. This story is incredibly messy, just like real life is. Clare Leslie Hall's writing is beautiful and she expertly lays out the story in three alternating timelines, until all the pieces are brought together and the truth is revealed. I was thoroughly surprised by the ending (and wanted to cry more), gasping so loud at one point and I had to stop reading to sit and take in what I had just learned. I do love it when a book makes me feel big feelings. I liked all of the characters, even if I didn't always understand their actions. Love makes humans behave in ways that aren't always rational, because we all deal with our emotions in different ways. In the end though love prevails in a big, beautiful way. I will be thinking of this book for a long time!

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this DRC in exchange for my honest review.

Leaving feedback even though I haven't read this yet because I have heard so many great things about it! I can't wait to read it. Sounds like a real winner.

I am going to be honest, I am listening and reading this and I cannot get thru the first several chapters. I am NOT sure if it’s slow or just not a topic or subject matter that is appealing to me. I stopped! Sorry.

3.5 stars rounded up. My one-sentence review of Broken Country: Frank deserved better.

Set in rural England in the late 1960s, with flashbacks to the mid-50s, Broken Country is about a love triangle between Beth, her husband Frank, and her past boyfriend Gabriel and its tragic, far-reaching consequences. I absolutely understand all of the glowing five-star reviews for this book because it checks a lot of boxes: relationship drama, thriller vibes, flawed characters, moody storytelling, and a vivid, idyllic setting on a sheep farm. Clare Leslie Hall is a gifted storyteller, immersing the reader completely in the world of the book, and she taps into lots of emotions without it feeling overwrought.

But still, I wanted more from Broken Country. The character and relationship development wasn’t as in-depth as I was hoping it would be; the romantic relationship in the past timeline felt like instalove, and I found myself struggling to buy into the chemistry between Beth and Gabriel. Given the events of the book, it’s obvious that their connection was strong, but I never really felt it. I couldn’t connect with the characters, and even though I usually love messy protagonists who are imperfect and make terrible choices, I didn’t love Beth. Her lack of remorse was frustrating, and also felt like a missed opportunity for Hall. I wanted the book to really destroy me by exploring topics like love, desire, painful choices, and sacrifice in a meaningful way, but the characters just didn’t guide the story deep enough to get me there. As a result, Broken Country for me was a story that was compulsively readable, and definitely beautifully told…but not resoundingly meaningful.

Just wrapped up Broken Country, and wow—what a beautifully tangled web of love, loss, and secrets. Hall's writing is lyrical and immersive, painting the Dorset countryside with such vividness that you can almost feel the damp earth and hear the rustle of the fields. The narrative weaves between timelines, gradually revealing the depth of Beth's relationships and the secrets that bind—and threaten to unravel—them. The suspense builds steadily, keeping you guessing about the true nature of the characters' pasts and the events leading up to a mysterious death.

This was a terrific read and the story was laid out so well. There are two timelines shifting between the past and present of the three main characters: Beth, Gabriel and Frank. I don't want to say anything about the plot because while it's not actually a mystery genre, there's kind of a mystery element to it as the author unfolds the history that ultimately led to a momentous event. She kept the intrigue and guessing going almost the whole time and did so in such a skillful manner. As a reader, I was torn between who I was rooting for and commiserating with. And for those who are parents, this book touches deeply on the love a parent has for their children and how that love can affect all actions and decisions, whether good or bad. As well, the role of a parent and the impression they make can affect a child all their life too. The author did an amazing job encompassing family love, parental love, romantic love and friendship too, into this one unique story. It was full of longing, nostalgic, heartbreaking, and bittersweet moments.

This book had me hooked from the beginning! It was absolutely enjoyable and jam packed with so much!! It contained two timeless, moving back and forth from past to present. It was heartbreaking but had such a unique story!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Fantastic read! I found myself in the story and was so UPSET with the main character at times but I loved the outline and the storyline. Very good read.

Oh my goodness this book was so flipping good!!!!

Ah..... I loved this debut so much and I could not get through this one fast enough!

I can def tell this is going to be one of the phenomenal debuts of 2025! I haven't read such a debut like this in so long.

Addicting, beautiful, and heartbreaking. I was thinking about this book long after I finished it and my heart soared with the amount of passion I had for this story!!

Get this one your list!!

5/5 stars

i loved reading this book. been a long time that a throughly enjoy a book. the setting, characters the story. a beautiful love story and a great mystery all in one. easy read. recommended to all. many book clubs are now reading this. don't miss it.

"Everyone played a part in the tragedy."

A heartbreaking story about marriage, loss, guilt, and a tragedy. Beth is married to Frank, living a small town life on a farm. She loves her life, loves her husband - but they have had a tough few years. They lost their son to a tragic accident just a few years ago and it's hard, to see past their own guilt and sadness.

There is also a before - we learn more about Beth and her first romance, the first man she fell in love with. He was new to their small town and matched her wit and loved to write, just like she did.

The story takes you through the past and now - as they work through a new tragedy. It isn't clear, at first, how these parts all come together. But the story is broken in parts and makes it very easy to start to piece in together. After Part 1, I found the story to be very fast paced. I wanted to know what happened and how this would all conclude. What an amazing story that broke my heart.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Not the usual genre of books I read, but I’m so glad I decided to try something new and gave this a shot! Broken Country is a beautifully crafted story and one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.

Absolutely one of my favorite reads of the year. The writing is top tier. When you combine a murder mystery with complex characters, simmering passion, love triangles and heartbreak? It can only amount to a masterpiece. I see this book winning awards and would recommend it to all.

Genre: Historical Fiction/Mystery

Format: Audio/E-book

4.5🌟 - I really liked it!

I absolutely devoured this book in just about a day! I picked this for my IRL book club, and it was such a good pick! I was compelled to continue reading the whole book, and wanted to know what was going to happen next!

I did not anticipate the little twist at the end, but I thought it blended multiple genres really seamlessly! A love triangle, a murder, and a slow-burn suspense! The setting was so immersive! I felt truly swept away and captivated by the story.

Loved the audio version of this one as well!

Can’t wait to see this one adapted one day!