Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is the hot new book in town. It’s being compared to Where the Crawdads Sing, and it was the March 2025 pick for Reese’s Book Club. I’m sure a movie adaptation is in the works, whether we’ve heard of it or not.
What did I think of Broken Country? I liked it. But, I didn’t love it. It’s no Where the Crawdads Sing, I’ll tell you that much. Let’s get into it!
What’s Broken Country about?
Broken Country is consumable literary fiction about husband and wife Frank and Beth. Their happy marriage is thrown into turmoil when Beth’s first love, Gabriel, moves back to their village. Gabriel is newly divorced with a young son who reminds Beth of her own son, who died a few years earlier.
The story is set in the English countryside, and it mostly takes place in the 1960s, when Beth and Gabriel reignite their love affair. However, there are many flashbacks to when Beth and Gabriel first fell in love, what caused them to break apart, and what led Beth to her life with Frank and their son.
Be prepared for a lot of emotions, readers. Broken Country tackles the death of a child; infidelity; murder; emotionally detached parents; and the loss of first love. Despite all that, I wouldn’t call it a depressing book. It’s bittersweet. There are many moments of hope and joy in between the sadness and grief, even though you know those moments will be short-lived as the characters hurtle toward disaster.
What I liked about Broken Country
Author Hall is a lovely writer. Her writing style is easy to read and sucks you in, even though there’s nothing particularly unique or compelling about it.
I really enjoyed Broken Country‘s English country setting and the cast of characters. There are the locals who know and support one another; the way the entire community comes together to put on a wedding for a couple in the village; and how Beth and Frank are supported during the loss of their son. I loved the simple farming life that Beth and her family fall into; hard work that leaves you feeling exhausted but accomplished at the end of each day.
And, since I appreciate stories about dealing with grief, I admired how Hall tackled the difficult topic of Beth and Frank losing their son, and the inevitable aftermath upon their lives and marriage. It’s depicted poignantly and realistically. You understand the motives for each character, even if you don’t agree with them.
What I didn’t like about Broken Country
The main thing I didn’t like about Broken Country was the story about Beth and Gabriel’s reignited affair – probably what many readers love about this novel. Unrequited love and passionate reunions are all the rage in romance.
However, I’m not a fan of infidelity. The concept holds no allure for me, and I don’t find it sexy. I enjoyed Broken Country a lot until the affair started – and then my interest started to wane. What bothered me the most is that Beth and Frank have a self-professed happy life together, despite all their hardships. As a result, Beth’s dogged pursuit of Gabriel made her come across as weak, greedy, and heartless, not sympathetic. She wasn’t someone I could root for.
Is Broken Country similar to Where the Crawdads Sing?
I don’t think Broken Country is similar to Where the Crawdads Sing, though I can see overlapping elements in both stories. For example, Broken Country begins with a murder – someone is dead, and we’re not quite sure whodunnit. The same thing happened in Where the Crawdads Sing. And, like Delia Owens’ novel set in the deep American South, the rural English setting of Broken Country sets the tone and atmosphere for so much of what happens in Hall’s novel.
However, the actual stories and characters in each book are wildly different. Go into Broken Country expecting something unique from Where the Crawdads Sing, or else you’ll be disappointed.
Should you read Broken Country?
I definitely think Broken Country is worth a read. It’s a novel that draws you in and gets hold of you, and it tackles many different topics with grace. It’s a great blend of suspense, romance, historical fiction, and literary fiction, and it’s a perfect book for readers who like family sagas, stories about lost and recovered romance, and a tinge of suspense.
What’s the book-inspired recipe?
Stay tuned for the book-inspired recipe: Grilled Honey Sausage Sandwiches.
