I think I’m absolutely in the minority here, and will probably get lynched for this, but in this case - I fell for the hype and was left really disappointed 🤦🏻‍♀️

The writing style, the atmosphere, all of it were so good at first that I was fully convinced it would live up to it. I won’t take away from how good the writing and atmosphere were - the author is talented there’s no disputing that. But for me, the plot/story was not it.

I always try to approach stories without expecting characters to make perfect choices, understanding that people act irrationally, especially under pressure. But in this case, the protagonist’s actions had such devastating effects on so many others, while she herself remained largely untouched by the fallout. It became harder and harder to suspend disbelief. It's one thing when blame can be shared equally, but when so much pain and tragedy unfold and the main character barely seems weighed down by guilt or remorse, it really broke my connection to the story. If there had been stronger emotional consequences, even if not physical ones, I might have stayed more invested.

The pacing also shifted later in the book. What began as a tightly structured, fast-moving narrative started to feel dragged out and a little messy toward the end. Although the early sections were engaging and polished, the momentum noticeably slowed. Most of the ‘twists’ were fairly easy to predict, which also lessened their impact. A deeper exploration of the fallout might have helped salvage some of this, but it wasn’t quite enough.

In the end, I’m left feeling a little frustrated. I genuinely cared about parts of the story, there were even moments that moved me to tears. But ultimately, the story didn’t live up to the emotional weight or narrative promise it hinted at early on. A certain character, I was begging to stand up and stop allowing things to happen - but they didn’t and it was gutting. There was also an aspect to the plot, that had I been aware of before I read it, I probably wouldn’t have bothered as it just irks me.

3 stars for strong writing, atmosphere and an initially compelling setup that sadly didn't deliver as powerfully as I hoped.

I have seen everyone rave about this book. I did enjoy it but I didn't find it a five star read. It was a sad story but I didn't connect with the characters as much as I thought. Still enjoyable though.

Complicated but cathartic family saga
—
An engine with many moving parts, not least three mysteries that are revealed late on in the tight plot, this will find its fans but may put others off. A rural family saga sliced into a literary smorgasbord, the reader will have to work to keep tabs on a multitude of timelines. In mid-century Britain, brainy farm girl Beth meets Gabriel, scion of the family in the local big house. Fifteen years later, Beth supports her farmer husband Frank in sickness and in health, until the day that Gabriel returns to the village, his ten year old son in tow. Six months after that, we follow a man on trial for murder as Beth watches him from the sidelines.

The classic plot of a protagonist caught between two lovers is spiced up a little by the mysteries that Hall places in the reader’s way: who is on trial? What happened to Beth and Frank’s child? And one more mystery that you’ll probably see from miles away. I admit that this was not a hard read and I did wonder if I was missing what other readers seem to have seen in the book; but on the very last page I got what the book was made to do. I’m not sure it was worth reading the whole thing for just one moment of catharsis but I know that some readers will want that from their books.

Three and a half stars.

I’m calling it… this might just be my book of the year. HOW is anything going to top this?! WHAT. A. READ.
Sure, I guessed a few of the twists, but honestly? Didn’t matter one bit. This book had me in a chokehold from page one & then absolutely wrecked me. I’ll be thinking about it forever.
Five stars? No. ALL the stars.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. It was such a good book I read it in one sitting, it drew me in from the first page and the story will stay with me for a long time. I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Wow where do I even start.
This book managed to grab hold of every single emotion, twist it and still come back for more. A beautiful story of love that managed to shock me and break my heart all at the same time.
The author did such an amazing job making sure each character had their own story that flowed seamlessly throughout the whole book. I will definitely have a book hangover for a very long time from this.

The book moves back and forth in time, shifting between the trial of an unnamed defendant for the murder of an unnamed victim in 1960, Beth and Gabriel’s love affair as teenagers in the 1950s and the events of Beth’s ten year marriage to Frank.

There’s a wonderful innocence about Beth and Gabriel’s teenage romance through the heady heat of one idyllic summer, even if it’s not long before it is consummated. However, Gabriel’s mother doesn’t approve of the relationship. She sees a different future for her son, one that doesn’t involve marriage to a local girl. Summer comes to an end and Gabriel sets off for university leaving Beth thinking their relationship will persist. But events conspire to break them apart and she finds herself alone and facing an uncertain future. Frank, the young man who has been her devoted admirer ever since they were at school together, becomes her rescuer. He doesn’t care what’s happened in the past, he’s just overjoyed that he’s finally with Beth and they can set up home together on the family farm.

Running a farm is hard, physical work involving long hours. It doesn’t help that Frank’s younger brother, Jimmy, rolls in drunk most nights and doesn’t pull his weight. And only Frank seems able to control Jimmy’s angry outbursts.

Despite its uncertain beginnings Beth and Frank’s marriage is a success built on a foundation of love, mutual attraction and moments of joy. But it is also marked by a tragedy that has left them both with deep-seated psychological scars. Frank buries himself in work whilst Beth’s profound grief leaves her barely able to function, mindlessly completing the round of daily chores.

When Gabriel arrives back to live in the house he grew up in, Beth finds it impossible to resist the thought they might still have a future together. After all, they were supposed to have a life together weren’t they? It’s a kind of madness that makes her blind to any consideration of the possible consequences – with dire results.

I couldn’t really warm to Gabriel who seemed self-absorbed and indifferent to the consequences of his actions. And although I felt empathy with the teenage Beth and the circumstances she finds herself in, and immense sympathy for the tragedy that occurs later, I found it hard to forgive some of her decisions. For me the real hero of the book was Frank, the epitome of steadfast love, forgiveness and understanding despite bearing the burden of his own guilt. (The rural setting and love triangle gave me Thomas Hardy vibes, in particular Far From the Madding Crowd. There’s a Gabriel in that, of course.)

Broken Country is a beautifully written book that combines an intense, heartbreaking love story with elements of a thriller. It’s a very cleverly constructed book with a number of revelations kept for the final chapters. Although I didn’t find events after the trial particularly credible, they do set things up for an emotional ending that left even cynical old me slightly tearful. But then I always cry at the end of The Railway Children even though I know what’s coming.

Such a beautiful book I absolutely adored this read and had to buy myself a physical copy. Written with such beauty and elegance. A book I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

Amazing. That is the first word that comes to mind when describing "Broken Country". A truly amazing book.
The characters seemed so real and the description of the country almost made it seem like its own character. I loved Beth, Gabriel and Frank. Their emotions were so genuine and raw, and their story brought me to tears so many times.
This book is one of the reasons I love reading so much.

Having seen all the hype around this one I wasn't sure what to expect - I was scared I might be disappointed! What I discovered within the pages of Broken Country was great writing and a really engaging story. The first 2/3 was a compelling love story, a love triangle between Gabriel, Beth and Frank. I thought that was all interesting enough. However, it was the final 1/3 that really elevated this book. A trial, a fantastic twist, broken hearts... this is when it got really good!
Broken Country is a very strong novel and I definitely look forward to reading more from this author. It is bound to have huge success and is already extremely popular on social media.
Thank you so much to the publishers for my early copy.

The intensity of young love can never be forgotten or matched. When Beth and Gabriel fall in love as teenagers in 1955 it's with this intensity, and when he leaves for universityBeth thinks he's cheating and they split. Many years later famous author Gabriel returns to the area with his young son. Happily married Beth is torn in two. She loves her husband Frank and farm life but the pull is strong. Who knew how destructive it would be? Many lives are ruined. The court scenes were tense and the ending had me in tears. A wonderful read. #netgalley #brokencountry

A beautiful book, very profound and moving. It really has so much within the narrative, love, grief, loyalty family and other emotions that really hold your interest.. I thoroughly enjoyed it, it was an experience to read

This book is a deeply atmospheric and emotionally rich novel that will linger in my mind and heart for a very long time. The story is set in a tranquil English farming village in Dorset, and the beautiful narrative does a deep dive into the complexities of love, loss, memory, and the haunting shadows of the past. The author’s writing is both poetic and utterly gripping, which really draws you into the landscape and the lives of her beautifully developed characters. Each of the characters are hugely relatable and each of them harbour secrets that unravel with impeccably gentle pacing which kept me hooked throughout. The novel’s slow-burn tension, combined with its vivid sense of place and three dimensional characters creates a truly immersive reading experience that I found both deeply moving and thought-provoking, not only that but there’s a surprising plot twist which I totally wasn’t expecting. This is an absolute MUST READ - in fact, it is a huge contender for one of my favourite reads this year!

This book is a deeply atmospheric and emotionally rich novel that will linger in my mind for a very long time. Set against the backdrop of a tranquil English farming village, the narrative does a deep dive into the complexities of love, loss, memory, and the haunting shadows of the past. The author’s writing is both poetic and gripping, which really draws you into the landscape and the lives of her beautifully developed characters. Each of the characters are hugely relatable and each of them harbour secrets that unravel with impeccable pacing which kept me hooked throughout. The novel’s slow-burn tension, combined with its vivid sense of place and three dimensional characters creates a truly immersive reading experience that I found both deeply moving and thought-provoking.
For those who appreciate literary fiction with depth, mystery, and heart, Broken Country is an absolute must-read - it is a huge contender for one of my favourite reads this year!

After seeing a few early reviews from other readers, I was really looking forward to this one.

This is a beautifully written tale, blending mystery and romance perfectly. Starting off with a trial scene, giving very little away, then taking us back and unravelling the emotional story.

Highly recomended if you are in the mood for an emotional family drama with a side of murder mystery.

Broken Country is exactly my kind of book - a brilliant, beautiful love story with great pace and twists of a thriller. There was fantastic emotional depth here with Beth, though there were times I would have liked a touch more to the start of her relationship with Gabriel. The twists are brilliant, and while I did spot them coming, the execution is fantastic and does justice to the emotional core of the book.
It took me a second to get into this, but once I did I was fully immersed and raced through it. Really enjoyed, would recommend.

Broken Country is one of the most beautiful stories I've read in recent times. Exquisitely written with a story that completely captured me from the first page and kept me enthralled until the last word.

It's a love story but not a simple one. It's about love for a child. Love for the land. It's about steady and kind love, but also about wild and passionate love.

Beth fell in love one summer with a boy called Gabe. A terrible misunderstanding brought this love story to an abrupt end.

Left alone and scared, her friend Frank became her rock and she fell deeply in love. His devotion and unconditional love gave her a life she adored.

But a horrific accident turned all their lives upside down.

And when Gabe comes back into her life, it feels almost inevitable that their unfinished business will rekindle feelings.

This book reads beautifully and effortlessly. I truly cared for all the characters, and I thought the ending was sheer perfection.

Broken Country, Clare Leslie Hall

Synopsis: 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.

🚜

I have heard such amazing things about this book and when it was picked as a Reese's and Happy Place Book Club pick I knew I had to prioritise it!

I would like to preface this review by saying that this is not my typical genre whatsoever. I would categorise this book as a historical fiction, centred around a love story. However, this book has the pacing of a thriller and the twists had my jaw on the floor.

Halfway through I knew this was going to be a 5 star read. I was engrossed and bordering on tears for most of this book.

Believe the hype, it's absolutely fantastic.

I am very fortunate to be a part of John Murray's Lit Circle so this was an ARC ✨️ huge thank you to John Murrays for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was an intriguing read but I did struggle to get into it. This well could just be me though as a large % of the reviews rave about this book!

I do feel like I maybe do need to do a reread at some point though as lots was going on and perhaps I need to anno next time.

I do think that diehard thriller lovers will enjoy this though and have recommended this to a few book friends who I know adore this genre ❤️

(3.5 rounded up to 4 ❤️)

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is one book that will stay with me for a very long time, and it was a book that took my breath away and I had to grab some tissues and lots of them. The author wrote from her heart and was so beautifully written from start to finish. . . . . . .

Brocken Country was a beautiful love story with great pace and twists of a thriller, with great characters who had to make some impossible choices, and these had explosive consequences that toggles between the past and present to explore the far reaching legacy of first love.

WoW . . . . . . . .This was a book I read in one sitting and I can not recommend it enough. . . . . Just Beautiful!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press | John Murray for my ARC.