Reese Witherspoon’s book club pick for March is here — and we’ll be reading it ASAP
Reading is one of my favorite pastimes, especially in the winter when I’m stuck indoors, and if there’s one person I trust to give me a good book recommendation, it’s Reese Witherspoon. The actress has been running Reese’s Book Club since 2017, and over the years, I’ve discovered some of my all-time favorite novels from her monthly recommendations. The club highlights stories about women, written by women, and its pick for March promises to be another memorable read.
This month, Reese has recommended Broken Country, a novel by Clare Leslie Hall that was released just a few weeks ago. It’s described as a “sweeping love story with the pace and twists of a thriller,” and after reading what Reese has to say about the new book, I’m definitely adding it to my reading list!
Broken Country (Reese's Book Club)
Broken Country is the March pick from Reese's Book Club, which highlights female-led stories written by female authors.
What is Broken Country about?
Broken Country tells the story of Beth, who lives in a small village with her husband Frank. One day, Beth’s brother-in-law shoots a dog that’s trying to harm their sheep, and unintentionally opens a huge can of worms. You see, the dog belongs to Beth’s teenage love, a man named Gabriel Wolfe, who broke her heart before moving away. He recently moved back to the village with his young son, and the two former lovers are pulled back into each other's lives.
What happens next? According to the book’s description, “dangerous secrets and jealousies from the past resurface,” and the events that take place have deadly consequences.
What does Reese say about it?
Reese absolutely raves about this book, saying on Instagram that you’re going to “lose your chickens” when you read it.
“Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is an unforgettable story of love, loss, and the choices that shape our lives… but it’s also a masterfully crafted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Seriously, that ending?! I did not see it coming,” she says.
What do reviewers think?
Reese isn’t the only one who loves this book. It’s ranked on Amazon’s top-sellers list, and despite only being out for a few weeks, it already has hundreds of positive reviews.
“The writing is beautiful, and the story is told jumping around in time, around a couple important events,” explains one reviewer, who gives the book five stars. “It made me care about these characters so much that I felt real emotions — some so happy, others so heartbreakingly sad.”
Many other readers call the book a page-turner: “A love story and a mystery, beautifully woven together. I couldn't put it down, I highly recommend this to anyone who loves great fiction,” writes another reader.
However, some reviewers do warn that the plot is quite heavy, so it’s not necessarily a lighthearted read: “The story is captivating, but it is heavy. There was a lot of loss and grief throughout the story line.”
Should you read it?
If you’re looking for your next read, Broken Country promises to deliver mystery, heartbreak, and most importantly, great writing. I'm adding it to my "TBR" list (a.k.a. to be read), and if you like thrilling, heart-wrenching novels, you should too!
