Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5

“Sometimes home is where you least expect it…”

I don’t think I ever expected a novel from Clare Balding, but I’m so glad she has written this! And it feels so very ‘Clare’ from start to finish, which I loved. It’s pure escapism, with great characters you’ll want as your own friends. And it has that feel-good, uplifting quality that I was hoping for! Very happy to be sharing my review for Pastures New!

About the book

Alex has perfected the art of dodging responsibility during her almost 40 years – until an unexpected letter turns her life upside down.

She’s inherited a crumbling sheep farm in wildest, wettest Wales. This was not her life plan. Not at all.

Now, her closest companion is a stubborn Welsh terrier, she’s speed-reading The Idiot’s Guide to Farming, and her arrival has set the village gossip mill spinning. With the farm near collapse, Alex sets out to uncover the truth behind her mysterious inheritance.

But as secrets surface, Alex finds her heart pulling her in a direction she never saw coming.

Will she pack her bags – or has she landed exactly where she’s meant to be?

The beginning

It was really nice to experience Clare’s writing for the first time as I had no idea what to expect, but it was utterly gorgeous right from the start! We meet Alex whose job is to write about celebrity gossip for a magazine, a woman who is living a life she didn’t really imagine for herself at this age. She’s single, working a tiring job with unsociable hours, minimal friendships. Yet she doesn’t realise at this point just how much her life will be turned upside down. She heads to her parents’ house for Christmas, where she receives a pretty important letter; some guy named William has left her an entire farm in his will. A farm! After finally realising this isn’t, in fact, some epic prank from her best mate Ethan, reality hits. How on earth can she run a farm? The book is split into different narratives; Alex, her mother Isobel, and housekeeper Gwen in Monmouthshire. Gwen knew a side of William most people didn’t, and she was grieving from his death. These perspectives tied really well with each other. Alex, along with Ethan, head over to Monmouthshire to see just what she’s inherited.

“Gwen was a woman who liked to see the best in people and took a clear view early on as to whether they would be in her team or on the bench. If this Alex Roberts liked dogs more than people then she must be an alright sort.”

I loved the small, tight-knit community feel I got from this place. It felt cosy with wonderful characters, people who quickly felt like my own friends. That is, aside from Dickon, who does seem a bit of a dick, as his name suggests. (Was this intentional? Who knows, but I laughed 😂) I really felt for Alex; before she left for Monmouthshire, her father was taken ill in hospital and all she wanted to do was to ask him about his connection to William, for him to offer his thoughts and advice on this inheritance. But after his reaction to first seeing the letter, I was going to bet this situation was a whole lot more complex than what it appeared to be on the surface. There’s a light sprinkling of humour throughout the book and I felt this really accentuated the personalities of these characters, making them all the more lovable. There were some really nice romantic elements to this book too, which seemed to effortlessly add so much to the plot. I loved seeing Alex and even her mate Ethan meet new special people. Who knew where things would go from here? A really lovely start – I was sucked in!

The middle

I seemed to learn a surprising amount about farm life and lambing while reading this book. I knew farm life was tough and certainly not for the faint hearted, but wow. This book really highlights how hard it is, the struggles faced both physically, mentally and financially. Alex has to quickly adapt to farm life, but I had to hand it to her – she was ready to get stuck in and do all she could to help, with Gwen’s direction, of course. I effortlessly sank into it all which felt utterly lovely. I loved learning more about these characters, especially Dickon. When we learn more about his history, the reason for his hostility, his unkindness, I instantly felt bad. He’s been through a lot in his life and delicate subjects are touched upon. I wondered if, by the end of the book, these characters would perhaps see a different side of him, or manage to help him get back to the person he once was. The book highlights the fact that you never know what someone has been through, or is going through. Kindness wins, always. I found the character development to be excellent by this point, and I couldn’t wait for even more of it!

” As she struggled to sleep that night, the germ of an idea started to form. It might just be the solution for them both.”

There was a really unexpected little twist here where Alex discovers what her connection to William and this farm could be. My theory was totally wild but also believable. It was also one of Alex’s theories too, so maybe the real thing wouldn’t be so extreme. Or maybe it would?! Alex’s relationship with her mother made me a bit sad. It was clearly strained, and after being confronted about what Alex had uncovered, she was certainly hiding something big from her daughter. I felt so invested in this relationship though, wanting more than anything for them to get to a point in which they both felt loved and happy. A character that I felt surprised about here was Dickon; he starts to speak to Alex after never saying a word and I really started to warm toward his quirks. I think the real version of this broken man was making an appearance… I enjoyed joining Alex in thinking up ways she could bring in more income to help keep the farm running. Imagine the possibilities; festivals, a bed and breakfast, a farm shop, farm experiences. I would have loved to have jumped into the book at this moment to help Alex plan all this!

The end

I loved the LGBTQ+ rep in this book, but I have to say I found the relationships really immature and a bit cringe at this part of the book, which felt odd! At times, it honestly felt like I was reading a YA book when these characters are, in fact, pushing 40. It was my one gripe! I didn’t rate Alex’s strange, nervous behaviour around her love interest, Mandy. It just felt a little unnatural. However, as Alex’s plans to make money on the farm are set in motion, I felt so incredibly happy for her and her success. I knew she, and her little team had what it took to bring in the funds and make the farm thrive. There was still plenty to do and it would be incredibly hard work, especially as trouble comes lurking in the form of characters you will love to hate… Layton especially is a nasty piece of work, and he has links with Alex’s past. I just really liked the development of the majority of these characters. Alex in particular is such a selfless character who would do anything for anyone, just one of the many reason which I really loved her. I couldn’t wait for her to prove to the haters that she’d got this, and no one was going to stand in her way.

“I told him things I’ve never told anyone in my life. We have talked so much since then and it’s made me realise how special it is to find someone – anyone – with whom you can be utterly and completely yourself.”

I really liked how things came together in the end, how Alex’s mother finally spills her secrets, her heartache, her history. How the farm is intertwined in their family, how it was Alex’s calling to run it. But then, it all ended rather abruptly and I was left wanting more to be tied up. There wasn’t enough time for Alex’s relationship with Mandy to really take off, and despite the lovely messages of finding your happy place, it just felt a bit half baked. I felt like we needed another few chapters after that last one! There was plenty of goodness though; the feel-good moments are really well written, and left me with feelings of hope and happiness. It’s a really good book to escape from every day life for a while, and to place yourself in a beautiful part of the world. I’d be really keen to read another fiction book from Clare, if it ever came about! Definitely check this one out if you love a rural setting, fiction about farm life, or simply books that make you feel good, warm and fuzzy inside.

Overall thoughts

Pastures New is a warm, heartfelt read that picks you up and plonks you straight into the heart of Monmouthshire, Wales. After receiving a mysterious letter stating she’d inherited a farm, the life Alex knew would soon be a thing of the past. I so enjoyed my time with this character as she leaves her busy London life for a more rural, remote one at Tir Glas farm, trying her best to keep the farm running with so many setbacks and debt. But with her new role, she finds new friendships and whole new outlook on life, something which is written so well. The description and writing overall was so brilliant, and I could see everything so vividly. It was so easy to place yourself in a scene which was one of my favourite parts of reading this.

I did think the ending of the book felt a little half baked and I wish the relationship between Alex and her new love interest was explored further (the LGBTQ+ rep was great!) But it was still such an uplifting, lovely ending to a book that was pure escapism and had me smiling throughout. A moving story that will fill you with happiness!

Huge thanks to the wonderful team at Harper Fiction for my gorgeous proof copy! You can grab your copy of Pastures New right now on Amazon or wherever you buy your books. Make sure you’re following Clare over on Instagram for more updates!

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