Alex has mastered the art of evading responsibility—until she unexpectedly inherits a sheep farm from a stranger. To her surprise, the farm seems oddly familiar, and the dilapidated property along with the picturesque countryside feels more like home than anywhere she ever been. Before long, she herself striving to rescue not only the farm but also the small community surrounding it.

As an aspiring, I hold a bias against 'celebrity writers, often doubting whether they genuinely their. Even when they have the publishing industry all too eager to exploit their fame, regardless of the novel's quality. However, this particular book felt authentically Clare, with well-written story and likable characters. Although I anticipated the main twist early on, I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey and would have gladly read this while lounging on a beach during my summer holiday.

Hadn’t read anything by Clare Balding before. Didn’t even know she was a writer. Was pleasantly surprised. Lovely writing style which was a joy to read. Great characters and gorgeous surroundings. Will definitely be putting Clare on my watchlist.

I'm not sure where to start - maybe by saying I love Clare Balding! I was so pleased I was approved for this book and couldn't wait to read it. And it was great - a good storyline, some fab characters (some good guys and some not so good!) and an amazing part of the world as a setting. It was always likely to be based around horses, farming or similar as that is Clare's background but especially for a debut novel, that's got to be a good place to start. I raced through this (helped by the fact I haven't been well!) and really wanted to see where all the characters' stories would end. I wasn't disappointed with the outcomes; they seemed fitting.

However.......and I'm sorry, I really don't want to say this but I always write an honest review, I really didn't feel the story was very well constructed / edited. It would hardly seem to finish a thread before going off on something else. And I am aware this might just be me, but there seemed to be so much missing?! Where was mention of a meeting with the solicitor when you've inherited a property from someone you've never even heard of?! And was she left any money as well or just a farm to run with no finance? And a meeting with the Bank - there was never any mention of finance other than there wasn't any but how exactly did Alex keep running the place?! On top of that, wouldn't you want to try to find out who had left you a farm?! I'm not saying that there had to be chapters taken up with all these things, but there was really no mention (other than one small line I seem to recall much later on about a solicitors meeting but it was not a lot more than one line)! And Alex seemed to very quickly pick farming up - amazing what you can learn from a book!!

I'm truly sorry; as I say I love Clare and don't want to be nasty but I am giving my opinion as I am asked to do when given an advance copy. Perhaps there will have been some more editing before it is published which will improve it but I would say again, the premise for the story was really good and I would like to read whatever Clare produces next.

A really good debut novel by the author, it flows well and I liked the characters, except the ex-footballer, obviously. I would have liked a bit more about a couple of the characters such as Owen Odd Job. People should write about what they know, and Clare really knows her stuff. Enjoyable read, with hopefully a follow up to come.

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

I really enjoyed the story and a lot of the characters. I thought that there could have been more to the mystery of why the house and farm was left to Alex but overall it's a very wholesome and comforting read.

A lovely debut novel from Claire. A very easy read which I highly recommend. This open and down to earth story really captured my heart. I found I was warmed to the characters and loved that it was about families and relationships. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher's for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Alex writes for an online gossip site. Her heart isn’t really in it though as she’s not that interested in ruining people’s lives. She doesn’t have a great relationship with her mother but has gone home for Christmas. She is the first to arrive, her brothers and their families will come for a family party at their aunts on Christmas Eve, a tradition started by their glamorous aunt.

Alex opens a letter that has arrived for her at home. It’s from a solicitor informing her that she’s inherited a sheep farm in Monmouthshire. At first she thinks it’s a prank by her best friend Ethan but she soon finds out it’s not.

The book is well written and enjoyable which is what you would expect from Claire Balding. I hope we my get a second book about Alex in the future.

Pasture New by Clare Balding

Alex is living ( to the outside world ) a perfect life.
She has a job that takes her all over the world , and fully lives a lifestyle among those that live life,at full max .

However she has been left a crumbling sheep farm in Wales from someone she didn't even know .
She reads a book on farming , and decides to give it ago !

I loved the humour of this as we stumble along following Alex's life as she goes about learning The job as she goes along, we meet The animals , fellow farmers and The film of the local village.
Can she make,a good life for herself or has she taken on more than she can cope with and yearn for her old lifestyle?

A lovely, readable book from Claire Balding even if it was quite predictable. In saying that I really liked the characters and couldn’t put it down. A lovely, cosy book to read on holiday or a miserable afternoon.

Clare Balding has given us a novel featuring many of her loves in her first foray in to adult fiction. It is a lucky coincidence when Alex inherits a Welsh farm just when she loses her job as a social media journalist. As she moves in to the real world, and away from celebrities, she starts to discover what she really loves to do. Some of the story is a bit cliched and predictable but that doesn't stop it from being warm and readable. There are some great characters, and I especially liked Ethan, Rhys and Gwen, plus of course Jiffy.

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

I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I absolutely loved and it couldn’t put it down.
Alex is drifting along in life when she receives the news that she has inherited a farm in Wales. What follows is a fantastic adventure where Alex makes new friends, learns new skills and truly finds herself.
The characters were well written and I really liked Alex and wanted her to succeed on her journey
I thought the setting was excellent and so descriptive and could imagine myself in the pub or out in the fields with Gwen and Jiffy.
I would love a sequel or even a series to see what happens next and I would definitely recommend this to everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley, Clare Balding and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

At 39, Alex loses her job, deals with the start of mid life, her parents, secrets and a new farm that come with animals, and friends.
This was a cosy read and a page turner with all of its warm characters, fresh angles and clear writing.
Mood and characterisation 4, writing, plot and themes 3.5 stars.
Not a book I would normally go for unless I want a comfort read (not that this book does not deal with any relevant and realistic/serious matters), and as I usually look for a comfort read a few times per year, I would certainly love to read more by Balding, and stories with the same core characters here.

Clare Balding's debut novel is a good read. I pretty much expected it to be farming/ horse based and was really pleasantly surprised at how readable I found it. Alex inherits a farm in Wales from someone she doesn't know and had never met She moves in with Jiffy( the dog) who immediately becomes her shadow and Gwen the housekeeper. She instantly takes a dislike to Dickon her neighbour..and constantly faces problems that she has to solve. Alexa father has a stroke at the start of the book and her mother is edgy whenever the farm or it's original owner is mentioned....
A meet with an unpleasant celebrity that Alex knew from her past, financial problems, a flighty race horse, romantic feelings for Magic Mandy and a father she never knew she had all add up to this novels appeal. I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more by Clare Balding. Recommend.

A really fantastic first novel. A great insight into some of the struggles of farming. A great collection of characters and I loved the way she brought the world's of sheep farming and horse racing together. The awakening of the main characters was brilliant too. Can't wait to see what her second novel brings.

I really enjoyed this book, I thought Alex and all the characters she met via the farm were really likeable and there was a nice pace to the story. There was a good amount of variety, from the syndicate formation and thawing relationship with Dickon to finding out about William and her mother, not to mention magic Mandy and learning to farm... it was easy to read and I found myself wanting to find out more, even now I've finished the book I'm wondering how she got on!

A book you’d definitely expect to be written by Clare Balding- full of horses, dogs, sheep, farming, racing and same sex relationships. It felt a bit clunky in places and the whole magic Mandy story was shoehorned in I suppose to prove a point and add romance. Other parts of the story were about a failing farm , a secret love child (easily spotted at the start) a father recovering from a stroke and a difficult mother with secrets to hide.

I enjoyed the opportunity to read it however I’m not sure it was for me, very predictable, however a sweet story with a lovely ending

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

A beautiful,feel good, debut novel!

The author has ensured the reader is engaged in the narrative, from the very first page.
We follow Alex on a funny, heartwarming, emotive journey from jet-setting around the world, writing articles for a gossip magazine, to being left a run-down farm, in a will of someone she didn't even know!
She knows nothing about farming but finds herself, before too long, being drawn to North Wales.

I would not normally read this genre but I was intrigued due to the author, & she didn't disappoint....I loved it & couldn't put it down! I look forward to owning a physical copy & hope it becomes part of a series.
Thank you to Net Galley for my ARC in return for an honest review.

I have always love Claire Balding. Her no nonsense commentary on sports a joy to listen to. Not a barbie doll who looks gd reading from an autocue but a real woman who loves sport.

I didn't know that she also wrote books. I do now. She writes good books that are as marvellous as her commentaries.

I will be packing this up to post to all my like minded friends.

Read and enjoy.

When you see a book written by a well known celebrity, I am always unsure if it will be any good or not, but I have liked Clare Balding a lot over the years and knew it would be about animals too so just could not resist and I was pleasantly surprised. It was brilliant. Not being funny but Clare really knows her stuff, Alex has been inherited a farm in Wales but she does not really know why her. So she goes there to find out more and the reality of it all shocks her, the place is a mess and needs a lot of money poured into, and bills need paying asap. There is always a nasty person that will try and do something unkind and Clare has got this character Layton to a T. It was brimming full of warmth and comfort and the gorgeous animals made it feel so homely. I cannot wait to see what Clare writes about next, because this one was a stunner. I would highly recommend.

Wow. I loved this . I like Clare Balding and I love this fiction book she has written.. You have an inheritance that does not make sense, horse racing, lambing , love , a lovely Welsh setting. A moving story at times . I love the friendship of the horse and the lamb. The ending was not as neat as I would have liked. That is just how I feel . One of my books 2025. Would highly recommend it.