Maybe it’s just us, but this cover immediately makes us think of a cracked-open egg. Something about the overwhelming yellow tones, the way the color is broken up across the image, and—let’s be honest—the Reese’s Book Club sticker sitting there like a yolk. Even the word “Broken” in the title contributes to this weird mental association.
That aside, the image does grab our attention. On the surface, it’s a peaceful rural setting—quaint house, golden fields, a big old tree. But there’s something slightly off about it. The birds circling above the house add a sense of unease. And then there’s the dirt paths in the foreground, curving around the house but never actually leading to it, almost as if they’re avoiding it. We don’t get full-on horror vibes, but there’s an underlying creepiness that makes us curious.
Broken Country is an intriguing title, but the cover gives us little to go on. It could be about a literal broken-down rural area, or something metaphorical—maybe an emotional or societal breakdown. Whatever it is, it has our attention, which is exactly what a cover is supposed to do.
Based on the Cover, We Think This Book Is About…
A recluse who has ignored the day-to-day goings-on in the country, only to be forced out of his (or her) isolation to confront the mess the world has become. Whether that mess is political, environmental, or deeply personal, we’re not sure—but it seems like this book is about reckoning with the past and facing an uncertain present.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Beth and her husband Frank have built their marriage on keeping the past buried, but a single gunshot shatters their fragile peace. When Frank’s brother kills a dog, Beth is shocked to learn it belonged to Gabriel Wolfe—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel’s return, along with his young son who reminds Beth of her own lost child, stirs old emotions and village tensions. As secrets and jealousies resurface, Beth must choose between the life she built and the past she can’t escape. Broken Country is a gripping novel of first love, impossible choices, and dangerous consequences.