I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely read more of her adult books when she writes them. Very easy going.

I wasn't sure what to expect from Clare Balding but I really enjoyed this. Its such a nice cosy summer read. I think at times there was a little bit of "cringe" young persons language that jarred with me a little but on the whole it was really well written. I found the ending to be a little rushed, I would have like it to have been a little bit more drawn out and given further explanation but perhaps there is a sequel to come. I would be happy to recommend and I have given it 4 stars.

What a beautiful story, this was like a big hug in a book! Such a sweet story! Really warm hearted and beautifully written. Some amazing characters in this one, along with some lovely animals also for all the animal lovers out there, myself included!

Pastures New opens with a warm premise: Alex unexpectedly inherits a Welsh sheep farm, marking the start of a country-bound journey toward belonging and self-discovery. Clare Balding captures the beauty of rural life and small‑town community dynamics with charm. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of animals and countryside that brought the setting to life.  However, the narrative structure, especially frequent perspective shifts felt frustrating, even disjointed at times.

While I appreciated the overarching arc and many of the characters, the antagonist felt a bit obvious and lacking nuance. The story is highly predictable (which isn't necessarily bad!) but the ending felt a bit anticlimactic. I wanted more of an immersive experience to allow the mystery with Alex's parents to unfold naturally.

That said, the tone is cozy and heartwarming, making it a gentle and uplifting read for fans of feel‑good fiction. Despite the issues I encountered, Pastures New offers a delightful narrative with enough nostalgia and community spirit to earn a recommendation. I’m genuinely excited to read Clare Balding’s next book, as her voice shows clear promise!

A lovely book. I found it a bit slow at the start but then it cantered along. Really nice characters. I could really imagine the scenes. Sort of a Sunday afternoon, with a mug of tea kind of book.

For almost 40 years, Alex has thumbed her nose at responsibility, until an unexpected letter turns everything upside down.

Alex is working as a journalist in London , writing a celebrity gossip column, when the earth shattering letter turns up. Due to an inheritance from someone she’s never heard of, she is now the owner of a sheep farm in deepest Wales. That’s a good thing right? Well in this case definitely not!

Now, this is taking responsibility to another level for Alex, especially when she sees the state of the place, a crumbling property, rusting and broken machinery, and not only that, but it’s a large sheep farm, and Alex knows nothing about sheep, in addition, it’s running at a loss.
Where on earth will she start, and does she even want to! Sadly, her present job is about to be replaced by AI so it looks like she has no choice but to try and make a go of it.

I won’t go into any more details, but this was a lovely warm hearted story, that really has the feel good factor. Some wonderful (human) characters, alongside plenty of lambs, dogs and a horse, to please us animal lovers. The perfect beach read!

A lovely story taking you on a journey of swapping London for Wales and how this pans out. Lots of fun to be had along the way as well as a whole degree of sadness at points.

This doesn’t read like a debut novel. It’s nicely written, I loved the main characters and the setting was perfect as I read it whilst on holiday in Wales surrounded by sheep!

I’ll definitely be reading any future books by Clare!

This is a really good feel good read. One article written for a magazine and a mystery inheritance changes the lives of everyone concerned.

4* Pastures New - Clare Balding - a fun and quirky book which feels like a big warm hug.

Alex works as a contributor to an online gossip magazine/website, peddling rumour and commentary about minor celebs. It suits Alex just fine as she has always been afraid of commitment, her only responsibility as she reaches her 40s being the mortgage on her London flat. That world of self contained insularity comes crashing down when Alex unexpectedly inherits a large (and debt ridden) sheep farm in the English/Welsh borders. First trying to straddle her two lives, she finds herself being sucked into a new world and one where she is both out of her depth but also strangely at home.

Clare Balding’s debut fiction is great fun. It’s a little predictable but all ‘warm hug’ books are. The characters are fabulous, the plot well tied together and it all zips along. There are huge gaps in how some of how this could hold together, but that really isn’t the point because we aren’t here for the finances, we are here for the entertainment. I loved Alex and all of the characters that eventually come to be her wider family (with very special mention for Coco (Pops) (not least because I have a Coco Pops of my own), Jiffy and Barry John) and I’d really love to see the gang back together for another book.

Having loved several of Clare’s non-fiction books, this one was also a winner.

Thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for an ARC.

Rwquested this due to the author and i wanted to give her debut novel a chance. I really enjoyed this book and the characters it was an interesting concept and loveley how everyone just came together.

Alex is visiting her parents for Christmas when she receives a letter that stuns her. When she shows it to her father he is taken ill. She has inherited a sheep farm in Wales, from a man she doesn't even recognise the name of. Up to now she lives a life free of responsibility- just how she likes it, but taking on the farm, which she can’t sell for at least five years under the terms of the will, changes things for her.

This is such a beautiful read. Clare has the descriptions down so perfectly and it's evocative of her bucolic style - so much so I can almost “ hear” her reading to me. It's a wonderful story with great characters and of course animals as I would expect from the wonderful Clare. There’s a little drama, a little romance and a little mystery , all in all making an accomplished all round read I didn’t want to put down. Things that made me go awww (a certain sheep) and things that brought a tear to my eye in a good way. A stunning debut novel and I hope there is more to come. Loved it. Brilliant.



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This book is about a journalist who inherits a farm from a man she doesn’t know. Being set not far from where I live in Wales, definitely added to my enjoyment of this book but I think the setting would appeal to anyone. I loved the details of the Skirrid mountain which is one of my favourite walks. I know so many people who moved to this part of Wales describing it as heaven and this book reminds me of this affection this area can trigger for many.
I liked the main characters and I thought the Mum, Isobel, while initially difficult was actually so well portrayed and understood. I thought there was a diversity that was different to a lot of these types of books which was refreshing.
The author has a lightness of touch in her narrative and it was a quick, relaxing and easy read. I’m thinking it would be a lovely book to give as a Christmas present or to read over Christmas. I quite enjoyed reading it during our heat wave as there are lots of murky days described and even found it quite calming when I was still awake at 4am!
I can see some readers don’t see how she could keep the farm running and wondered about the process of getting the farm. I can’t remember if the details are all there or if I just filled in the blanks but it seemed reasonable to me and there are many farms around by me that have diversified and seem to be doing well so I’m hoping for another book to let us know.
Clare is well known for presenting Crufts in Britain and I loved how she included dogs and their characteristics whenever she could throughout the book.
Thank you to Harper Collins Uk for providing this book for my consideration via NetGalley this is all my own rambling, honest and personal opinions.

What a lovely debut novel. Alex inherits a farm that hasn't been doing well for years and it's falling apart. She has no idea why she has been left this farm as she didn't know and has never heard of her benefactor..
After losing her job she decides to go and find out what she can do to the farm. Alex meets such lovely helpful people who want the best for each other. The animals are described beautifully as is the countryside.
I didn't want this book to end and I hope I'm right in thinking this story isn't over yet as it is definitely crying out for a sequel.

Having read her autobiography I was curious how she would tackle a novel. It was a wonderful easy read and flowed just like she talks to us all on the tv, a thoroughly enjoyable novel. It is full of twists and turns to keep your attention as she recounts the story of a major change in life for Alex when she inherits a farm in Wales and has to come to terms with managing sheep, the impact of weather and fitting into the community. I would strongly recommend getting a copy and settling down.

Thirty-nine-year-old Alex is happy living a life of no responsibilities—or, at least, she thinks she’s happy—until, out of nowhere, she inherits a working farm. Now, the city girl has no choice but to head to the country and find a way to turn this failing farm into a financial success. But farming isn’t all she learns about during her time amongst the rolling hills and the frolicking lambs and sheep. Could this seemingly random bequest be just what she needs in order to discover who she really is and to build a more fulfilling life?

I was excited to be given the opportunity to read Clare Balding’s Adult Fiction debut, and after a run of disappointing reads, ‘Pastures New’ turned out to be just the book I needed. It is such a charming book, with its gentle pace and cosy vibes. I can totally picture it being adapted as a limited series, run at Christmastime on the BBC—and I really hope it is, because I’d love to see it!

Though the writing is fluid, it is far from faultless and it is not without need of tighter editing. The biggest issue for me is all the head-hopping—I’m not a fan and, in terms of perspective, this book jumps all over the place. It is very predictable, too; which is good in some ways, if you’re looking for a gentle read, but it also makes the ending feel abrupt and somewhat of an anticlimax. This isn’t a book that I gained any new insights from or felt changed by in any way; its overall message and the protagonist’s “lesson” are fairly clichéd. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I think it is just the kind of book you can safely recommend to friends and family. It has a lot of heart, and it is mild yet engaging.

If you’re looking for something relatively low stakes and cosy and you don’t mind predictability, ‘Pastures New’ is a great pick. However, if something more hard-hitting and twisty with unexpected or deeper meaning is what you’re in the mood for, it’s probably best to give it a miss.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Clare Balding and HarperCollins UK for the ARC. My review will be posted on Instagram, Amazon UK, Goodreads and The StoryGraph.

This book is fabulous! This is as varied as the talents of the author - from a London journalist who has been left a farm, and has no clue... to the farmer who starts to put her life back together, along with the farm and the community, and the love story that is woven amongst it. This is a true animal lovers' book - written with care and love, and written based on knowledge of what is being written about, If you are a country person, know one or want to be, this is gold - and recommend for you to read!

Loved (and couldn't stand) Layton - what a well written character!

A lovely story, easy to read and fabulous characters. The main character Alex is a journalist, writing stories for a gossip magazine, a job that she has became disillusioned with, she then discovers she has inherited a farm! Read her story of self discovery, friendship and new beginnings.

I’ve never read anything by Clare Balding before but as I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy I readily accepted and I wasn’t disappointed. A nice story , maybe a tad predictable, but nonetheless an enjoyable read . Pleasant characters mostly , and a good storyline. Recommended

An apt title for a debut novel. Opening with a funeral in Monmouth, Wales. William Griffiths leaves behind a dedicated housekeeper, Gwen and a mourning Welsh terrier, Jiffy, and a large sheep farm which is making a loss.

In London Alex Roberts is getting ready to travel home for Christmas. Always an awkward affair on account of her mother continuing to treat her like an errant teenager. By her mother’s standards Alex is not performing her female duties as she had not taken on the role of a wife and mother. Lying in late in the morning like a teenager without responsibility Isobel Roberts feels her daughter is living too much of an unconventional life as a single woman in London. At 39 she ‘reminds’ Alex that the clock is ticking.

‘Her mother had an uncanny ability to make her feel like she was still twelve years old.’

Christmas Eve and her mother berates Alex for lying in bed too late. A letter arrives for Mr Alex Roberts announcing Alex is the beneficiary in the will of William Griffiths. While her mother goes off to shop for a prearranged dinner party she is holding Alex discovers her father in the midst of a stroke and has to summon an ambulance. Christmas is overshadowed by his hospitalisation though her mother carries on with her plans regardless. Alex’s life takes an unexpected turn as she has also become the owner of William’s farm. A world that seems so far away from her all-expenses-paid trips to celebrity parties as part of her freelance magazine writing job. After exposing some of the hypocrisies of the rich and famous Alex now faces the prospect of others watching her fail.

I found the choice of setting Interesting. The author uses carefully constructed descriptions of this border county between England and Wales and weaves the landscape’s influence on the lead character’s new life. Generally there is good character development - A few interesting and well rounded characters and a few interesting caricatures. It seems there will always be animals where Claire Balding is concerned including race horses. Friendships and human relationships are also part of the patchwork of this debut novel as are the struggles of the farming community.

I’m grateful to NetGalley to have access to the prepublished ebook although there were a lot more typos than I would have thought there should be this close to official publication day. There were also a couple of early clumsy what can only be called ‘speeches’ made by a couple of the characters that might have been better phrased by a more experienced writer. I also had trouble at the very beginning with someone touching the gravestone at the grave at which a funeral had just taken place - I pondered for a while about whether the ground has to settle around a grave first before a stone is laid or was it a family grave site - which I found disrupted my reading.

Overall an interesting read. With the typos eliminated it would make a good feel-good or holiday read.