Books Broken Country (Reese's Book Club) Book by Clare Leslie Hall

"Broken Country" by Clare Leslie Hall is a historical fiction novel set in a small English farming village that weaves together themes of lost love, grief, and secrets across two timelines: 1955 and 1968. The story begins with the shooting of a dog that sets off a chain of events impacting the lives of the central characters.

The narrative follows Beth, a working-class woman who falls in love with Gabriel Wolfe, the son of a wealthy family in the village. Their romance from the past (1955) resurfaces in 1968 when Gabriel returns to Meadowlands, the family estate, with his young son Leo after divorcing his American wife. Beth, now married to a kind sheep farmer Frank, struggles with the legacy of grief over losing her son, Bobby, and is drawn back into Gabriel's life as she helps care for Leo.

As tensions arise in the village and relationships become strained, dangerous secrets and jealousies simmer beneath the surface, leading to explosive consequences. The story explores complex emotions tied to first love, hurt, and the fallout of difficult choices. It also highlights societal constraints and ambitions, including Beth's struggle trying to break free from working-class oppression and attend Oxford amid prejudice.