Pastures New is a lovely, heartfelt novel about starting over, embracing change, and the quiet magic of life in the countryside. Clare Balding’s writing is as warm and welcoming as ever, with a tone that makes you feel like you’re being told a story by a trusted friend.

The rural setting is beautifully drawn, and the animal characters are full of personality without ever feeling gimmicky. There’s a steady rhythm to the book—nothing overly dramatic, but consistently engaging and comforting.

It’s a great pick for readers looking for something gentle but meaningful, especially those who love animals, nature, or stories about finding connection later in life.

A delightfully cozy read.

I really enjoyed this debut novel from Clare Balding. It was romantic and heart-warming against a background of mystery and jeopardy. Well-written and very readable. Recommended reading!

I was so looking forward to reading Clare's debut novel as she's a tv presenter I actually like but Pastures New is boring. It took over 14 chapters just go get to the farm bit, there is so much of this that could have been cut.

I didn’t care for Gwen or Isobel POV and to be honest if it had just been Alex then I would have loved it. Yes there's a lot of knowledge in the horse racing/farming but I didnt grasp me like it should.

I hope her next book is more lively.

Sorry but its 2 star for me.

the first book I have read by this author and would thoroughly recommend it as an easy summer read. Clare has a variety of interesting characters that gel well together. It highlights what is possible once you put your mind to it and that no task is too difficult. Clare's love of animals comes shining through. Family secrets finally revealed makes you reflect that it is the people around you that count.

Clare Balding’s debut book is a heartwarming intriguing story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
The setting is an outlying Welsh sheep farm which Alex has inherited, although she doesn’t understand why. She had become jaded with her job as a journalist for Rizz magazine, and when she is replaced by AI, decides to move to Wales and work on the farm, with all its challenges.
I felt empathy for Alex who doesn’t have a good relationship with her mother, and there is a sense of secrets unfolding. Her friend Ethan brings laughter to the scene, and Rhys (the local pub owner) makes a great neighbour.
Alex is determined to succeed as a farmer, and I admired her positive spirit and friendly character. Gwen is supportive and works hard at the farm, both inside and outdoors. Although the farm is losing money along with other challenges, Alex comes up with new ideas she hopes will succeed in bringing rewards.
Clare Balding’s love of animals shines through, and this was one of my favourite things about the book. The friendship between the The Skirrid (race horse) and Barry John (a lamb) added humour and fun.
The book is about new beginnings and community, with new friendships and relationships developing. The warmth and humour make this an amazing first book. Hoping we can meet the characters again in further stories.

I’m a fan of Clare Balding but wasn’t sure what to expect from her novel. Thanks to net galley and the publisher for giving me an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
They say you should write about what you know and that’s what Clare has done. The story features a run down farm that needs a boost to make it successful. Animals play an important role alongside the human characters ND I loved that aspect, especially the dogs and horses and the little lamb that became so teaches to the racehorse. It was a lovely novel that I thoroughly enjoyed, in fact it surprised me as it was even better than expected!

Clare Balding’s debut novel is a feel-good, cosy read. Alex, the main character, is a jet-setting journalist in London who writes for a celebrity gossip magazine. As the novel begins, Alex is heading off to spend Christmas with her parents. While there, and events happen, Alex receives a letter explaining she’s inherited a sheep farm. With her career about to be taken over by AI and with no knowledge of farming, Alex heads off to deepest, damp Wales.

Hats off to Clare, as I have to say I learned a lot about farming and racehorses from this novel. Wasn’t expecting that! I could hear Clare’s voice, which was a pleasure. The characters are well captured in the small farming community. Overall I felt the plotting perhaps left a few too many unanswered what-ifs, but I would recommend it as an easy, feel-good read. Next? There needs to be a sequel with Alex.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable read which really takes you into the heart of the countryside and farming. Enjoyed meeting the characters and the storyline.

This was a fabulous debut novel from Claire Balding which I read in practically one sitting loved the characters and the setting and the storyline and everything was beautifully brought to life through the authors descriptive writing.

This was a heartwarming and cosy read that was perfect for the summer and would make a great beach read.

I would love this to become a series to further follow the lives of the characters and the animals that came to life in this story.

This was a fabulous feel good read that was guaranteed to put a smile on your face while reading.

This is a cocoa and slippers type book, easy reading and written to warm your heart. Alex has never settled down to any responsibility. When she inherits a rundown farm in Wales it’s the last things she wants until she realises it’s exactly what she needs….

Well, I'll be honest, I gave this a try purely out of curiosity because it was written by a TV celebrity. As far as I knew Clare Balding is a sports commentator and that's about all I knew, but I liked the book cover and it sounded interesting. I didn't realise she was an ex jockey and horses and horse racing isn't of any interest to me. I've been to the races twice in my life, and it's not something I would wish to repeat. Nevertheless I thought the horse racing story line was interesting because Clare is very knowledgeable on this subject which made me realise there's far more to horse racing than just running round a field.

On the whole I did quite enjoy the book, though perhaps Jeremy Clarkson's style of farming is more my thing but on a serious note it does highlight how much of a financial struggle farming is and it did make for interesting reading. I did enjoy it mostly, though the romance part isn't for me. I'm not keen on romantic fiction. I think if it had completely dropped the romance side and concentrated in a bit more detail on the farm business, the horse training and the storyline of Alex's mum and dad I would have enjoyed it more.

I enjoyed the story, particularly the part about the racing horse (and the lamb). Loved the setting. I liked most of the characters apart from Alex's mum, what a horrible woman. I don't care if she suffered heartbreak, no need to make others so miserable. Alex was a good character but it was a tad unbelievable that she didn't have more questions. It was pretty obvious why she had been left the farm. I do feel the author has left a lot of unfinished business, so wonder whether a sequel is due. It should be flagged about this book being about a same sex relationship. Yes, I know it was written by Claire Balding, but I didn't expect her to be so predictable in her writing. And the way she wrote it (spoiler alert), I do think it would have made more sense for Alex and Dickon to end up together. Lastly, it was unbelievable for four main characters, all in the same small Welsh village, to be gay, just saying. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read with a great feel good factor. The setting in a Welsh sheep farm and the training of a race horse were an interesting mix to say the least. Likeable characters and an interesting story. Recommended.

This is a rather gentle, cosy read with no real tension or mystery.
I thought it was fairly obvious why Alex was left the farm, and I wanted to shake her for not asking questions. Her parents, her solicitors, her bank - all swept under the carpet after she conveniently loses her job and takes on a farm. We are told that she has no knowledge of farming, but suddenly she's involved with lambing and training racehorses!
Her relationships are a little muddy, both romantically, and with her family, but she finds a new friend in Gwen (who seems to magically disappear from the last quarter of the book)
Not surprisingly Clare Baldwin's background of farming and racing, as well as sexual preferences are transferred to Alex, so all a bit predictable I felt.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good read. A really enjoyable story when Alex inherits a rundown farm from someone she doesn't know she is surprised but thinks her parents know more than they are letting on. When she goes down to visit its even worse than she thought and the financial side is a mess but can she turn it round and really find out the truth about the bequest. A good mix of characters who bought a lot to the book.

An enjoyable light read with enough drama to keep the reader interested. Mainly set in on a farm in rural Wales with well rounded and diverse characters although I did find Alex somewhat annoying at times. A feelgood and heartwarming story overall.

Pastures new by Clare Balding is a cosy look at the trials of Alex who changed her life at the age of thirty nine away from the thankless and soulless life of celebrity gossip columnist in London, for farming life in the remotest parts of Wales.

The story was cosy and undemanding in the absolutely best ways. The characters were likeable and the setting was the best bit. It was quite light on farming details but that wasn't too problematic for me. It definitely felt like we were being set up for a second outing for Alex and I would enjoy reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to review in exchange for an honest review

I was interested to read this book by Clare Balding , as she has been more of a TV personality than an author. I didnt find the prose was very smoothly written, a bit wooden at times, but the story was well thought out. Very much what I expected of someone so involved in the horse/farming world. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.

This was a delightful gentle read. Alex, who has previously managed to sidestep any real responsibilities, finds herself left a Welsh sheep farm in the will of a family friend. She is unable to find out why she has been left this bequest from her family as her father has a stroke and is unable to communicate.

She visits the farm and following her redundancy decides to settle and see if she can make a go of the farm.

She receives a mixed reception from the local community but armed with her idiot’s guide to farming begins to learn the ropes.

Her championing of her next door neighbour’s race horse allows her to build links in the local community.

But there are family secrets to unravel which could threaten her future.

A tale of new beginnings, community and hope.

This is just the loveliest book! I really really really enjoyed this book!

The story follows Alex, a journalist who has lost her job due to being replaced by AI. This is so relevant to today and is a threat to many jobs. Alex inherits a rundown sheep farm in Wales – along with its debts, and lots of problems with the farmhouse. I live in Wales so loved the setting! Alex has never farmed in her life, she has no experience of how to run a farm, make a farm profitable and cannot understand why on earth she has been left a farm and most importantly from who.

As the story unfolds, I did work out who gave Alex the farm before it was revealed. And if only they could see what a difference Alex’s life is now and how the farm turned her life around. I loved Alex’s relationship with Jiffy, the dog. It was as if Jiffy knew who Alex was related to as they bonded straight away.

Not only did the farm transform Alex’s life but Alex transformed the farm, the pub, the village and her neighbour Dickon, a racehorse trainer. Not getting off on a great footing with Dickon did not put Alex off and the difference she made to Dickon’s life and his horse, The Skirrid’s life was incredible. Alex is a very special person and always helping others. I think William would be incredibly proud of the impact Alex has made in the community.

I loved how the sheep stayed with the horse and how much the sheep kept the horse calm. Such a special relationship and a wonderful companionship for them both.

The book explores wonderfully the relationships between Alex and Mandy. She may be a magician and she certainly brought the magic into Mandy’s life and allowed Alex and us to see the transformation of Alex being herself and allowing her to open up to a new relationship, which she have never envisaged but when it did, everything fell into place.

Clare Balding has an immense amount of experience and knowledge about animals and farming life and this shines through and I felt it made the reader feel so part of the book. The wonderful setting, the very special characters and the vibrant and tight-knit community made this book a very special read indeed. I adored Gwen and loved how she was always on her quad bike, herding the sheep! I did not like Layton Brooks though!

So much fun, smiles and laughter in the story too and I laughed so much at the trampoline for the frog! There was so much in the book that was so relevant to today and where I said on many occasions, “that is so true! Or “we have said that!”.

I definitely would love to go and visit Alex’s sheep farm – I think she should definitely set up a glamping site so visitors can have a true Welsh farm experience!

A great book, tackling taking on a new challenge, overcoming the hugest of obstacles and finding your true self. I would love to see a follow-up book! I am very curious to see how Alex’s journey unfolds and where life takes her next!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for my advanced copy. This review is based on a NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.