Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall @clarelesliehall @clarelesliehall.bsky.social #HattieMorahan @simon.audio @simonaudio.bsky.social @librofm @reesesbookclub

the setup…
It’s 1968 and someone was murdered as the story begins but it then gently pivots to the summer of 1955 when Beth Johnson and and Gabriel Wolfe meet. They’re teenagers in North Dorset, both preparing very differently for post graduation but begin a passionate love affair that ends too soon and unfortunately. Beth turns to Frank, the boy she’d already had feelings for and who clearly loves her. Their marriage is strong and together they’re managing a sheep farm. That is until Gabriel and his son Leo appear under the most tragic of circumstances, forcing Beth to reckon with old feelings.

the heart of the story…
I loathe love triangles but this is not that story. Of course Beth must grapple with the feelings that always seem to be ingrained with first loves but here the emotions and issues are presented deftly with literary skill and maturity. The transitions between the past and present are brilliantly timed and equally compelling. I was mesmerized, especially not knowing who murdered whom for most of the book and who she would choose.

the narration…
I’d never heard of Hattie Morahan and now she’ll be a tipping point for other books I might consider. Her storytelling skills are superb and she completely captured my head and heart from start to finish.

the bottom line…
I inhaled this story in one day and to say I loved it just feels…understated. It wrecked me emotionally and that’s extraordinary since typically in a love triangle someone has to be the bad guy. Highly recommend you go into this story so you can feel everything it has to offer. Thank you to Reese Witherspoon for highlighting this gem by choosing it for your March selection. Major book hangover.

Book Info

• Release Date: March 4, 2025
• Narrator: Hattie Morahan
• Audio Length: 8 hours, 57 minutes
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

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(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)