Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

I've been intrigued by this book ever since I saw an interview of the author describing the main character's love interests, so I was excited when it became available to listen to. Clare Leslie Hall's third novel, although the first two were previously published under the name Clare Empson, Broken Country has become a New York Times bestseller, is an Amazon Editor's Pick for Best Book of the Year So Far for 2025, and was chosen as Reese's Book Clubs pick for March 2025. It deals with addiction and alcoholism, animal death, child death, adult death, gun violence, infidelity, murder, and grief.

When Beth Kennedy was a teenager, she had a brief but passionate relationship with a Gabriel Wolfe, which ended when Gabriel went away to university after an unfortunate miscommunication. Beth moved on after a time, falling deeply in love with Frank Johnson. But years later, Gabriel moves back to the village with his son Leo, who reminds Beth of the son that she and Frank lost in a tragic accident. She comes to a crossroads and must choose between Gabriel and Frank. Two men that could not be more different but who both love Beth, and both of which Beth fervently loves. But that choice is ripped away from her when Frank and his brother Jimmy find out about her affair and yet another tragedy strikes at Blakely Farm.

Oh to be Beth, torn between two men - both of which seem amazing in ways that are completely different and absolutely unique. The problem is that both seem full of good attributes and there is almost no negative traits for either of them. They are nearly too good to be true, but just stay on this side of believable. Beth, on the other hand, is hard to be sympathetic to when she relates to the audience that there is a bad choice sitting in front of her and she is going to make it anyway. It would be okay once or twice, but the whole book is full of this inner dialogue. I did like the way the book was laid out. They lay out the past between Gabriel and Beth, the life she makes with Frank and what happens to their son, and what happens with the upcoming court case, in between slowly revealing the current relationship Beth has with her husband and her reintroduction to Gabriel. There are several timelines but they are easy to follow without being confusing. Each section of the book is dedicated to one of the important men in Beth's life but not in a way that focuses only on that person. The premise of the book was interesting and kept me wondering what secrets Beth was hiding. But it was a little on the slow side, I do wish the tempo had been a bit quicker.

All in all, Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall was a good book and I'm giving it 3.75 stars out of 5. I enjoyed it for the most part although I did think it was a little slow. I did like the ending, with the summary of life after the trial. The characters were mostly likeable if a little one dimensional at times. The writing was very good. And I did enjoy the way the story unfolded. If you are a big fan of literary fiction, you would likely enjoy this book but it's not one I will be raving about.

For more from the author, check out their instagram @clarelesliehall

Pairs well with beef wellington and not reading other people's diaries.