Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall — A Book Review

A slow burn that turns into a full-blown emotional reckoning

If you’ve had Broken Country sitting on your TBR or library holds list for what feels like forever, you’re not alone. I did too. And after finally listening to the audiobook this week, I understand why it’s landed on so many “Best of 2025” reading lists.

This is one of those books that doesn’t rush you… and then suddenly refuses to let you go.

What Broken Country Is About (Spoiler-Free)

At first, Broken Country feels almost deceptively simple.

We’re introduced to Beth and Frank, a married couple living a quiet rural life, alongside Jimmy, Frank’s brother. The opening chapters are grounded, domestic, and familiar, almost too familiar. You settle into the rhythm of their world, thinking you know exactly what kind of story you’re in.

You don’t.

What unfolds is a layered, emotionally charged novel where nothing is quite as it seems. Relationships shift. Perspectives fracture. And just when you think you’ve found solid ground, the story pulls it out from under you.

By the end, it’s clear this was never a straightforward narrative; it’s a carefully constructed unraveling.

Why This Book Works So Well

What Broken Country does best is misdirection.

Clare Leslie Hall lulls the reader into a sense of comfort before quietly introducing doubt, tension, and moral gray areas. The twists don’t feel gimmicky or shocking for the sake of shock. Instead, they feel earned, like realizations that snap into place once you finally have all the pieces.

This is a novel about:

• The stories we tell ourselves
• The versions of people we choose to believe in
• How love, loyalty, and truth are rarely as clean as we want them to be

It’s introspective without being slow, dramatic without being overdone.

Audiobook Experience: Worth It?

Absolutely.

Listening to Broken Country on audiobook made the experience even more immersive. The emotional shifts land harder when you hear them unfold, and the pacing works beautifully in audio form, especially once the plot accelerates.

If you’re someone who likes listening while doing chores, driving, or winding down at night, this is a great choice.

Themes That Linger After the Last Chapter

Without giving anything away, this book stays with you because it explores:

• The unreliability of first impressions
• The cost of secrets
• The way past choices quietly shape the present
• How easily certainty can dissolve

By the final chapters, you’re no longer reading for answers, you’re reading to understand how everything became so complicated.

Final Thoughts: Is Broken Country Worth the Hype?

Yes, but not in the way you might expect.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced thriller right out of the gate, this might test your patience at first. But if you enjoy slow builds, emotional depth, and layered storytelling, Broken Country delivers in a big way.

It’s the kind of book that starts quietly, twists unexpectedly, and ends with you sitting there thinking, Wow. I did not see it that way at all.

Best for readers who love:

• Literary fiction with twists
• Rural or domestic settings
• Character-driven stories
• Books that reveal their meaning slowly

Listening to the audiobook "From Here to the Great Unknown," I anticipated a journey through the glamorous yet tumultuous lives of one of music's most iconic families. I didn't expect the profound resonance I found with my own experiences—realizing that grief and life itself, in their deep and unyielding grasp, recognize no boundaries of fame or fortune. The emotional impact of this realization was deeply moving.

Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough beautifully weave a narrative that lays bare the universal nature of human emotions and relational challenges. Their experiences, particularly Lisa Marie's recounting of her marriage to Michael Jackson, are not just celebrity stories but reflections of the human condition. This relatability made me feel understood, as I've experienced similar emotional distancing and adopted similar behaviors in my relationships. It's a stark reminder of how relationships shape us.

Lisa Marie's dreams of her late father, Elvis, also struck a chord with me. She dreamt of trying to warn him about his death, mirroring dreams I've had of my late husband, James, where he hadn't really passed away. These dreams capture the book's essence, illustrating how the specter of loss lingers and shapes every aspect of our lives thereafter.

Enriched by Julia Roberts' compelling delivery of Lisa Marie's words, Riley Keough's narration added a profound layer of authenticity and emotion. Riley's eloquence and clarity in sharing her and her mother's stories allowed the emotions to resonate deeply with the listener.

"From Here to the Great Unknown" is more than a memoir; it is a testament to the shared experience of grief that transcends the divide between the public and the private, the ordinary and the extraordinary. It reminded me that behind the veneer of celebrity, the heartaches are as accurate and profound as they are for any of us. This book is a must-read for anyone who has felt the shadow of a loved one's absence, offering reassurance that we are not alone in our journeys through mourning and memory. It's a connection we all share.

Buy the book here.