Pastures New: Signed Edition
Hardback Published on: 11/09/2025
Price: £20.00
Synopsis
Sometimes home is where you least expect it…
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 deepest, wettest Wales. This was not her life plan. Not at all.
Now, her closest companion is a grumpy Welsh terrier, she’s speed-reading An Idiot’s Guide to Farming, and her arrival has set the village gossip mill spinning. With the farm near collapse and its community now relying on her, Alex sets out to uncover the truth behind her mysterious inheritance. Then she can finally get back to the carefree life she thought she wanted.
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?
Publisher information
- Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
- ISBN: 9780008797850
- Number of pages: 400
- Dimensions: 240 x 159 x 38 mm
- Weight: 620g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View all
Brilliant
Clare Balding's debut novel is a good read. I pretty much expected it to be farming/ horse based and was really pleasantly surprised at how readable I foun... READ MORE
One of my books of 2025
Wow. I loved this . I like Clare Balding and I love this fiction book she has written.. You have an inheritance that does not make sense, horse racing, lam... READ MORE
Predictable
This is a rather gentle, cosy read with no real tension or mystery.
I thought it was fairly obvious why Alex was left the farm, and I wanted to shake her ... READ MORE
Fantastic read
I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I absolutely loved and it couldn’t put it down.
Alex is drifting along in life when she receives the news... READ MORE
A totally delightful read. I could not have loved it more! 5 Enormous Stars!
This is just the loveliest book! I really really really enjoyed this book!
The story follows Alex, a journalist who has lost her job due to being replac... READ MORE
A Beautiful, Feel Good, Debut Novel!
The author has ensured the reader is engaged in the narrative, from the very first page.
We follow Alex on a funny, heartwarming, emotive journey from jet... READ MORE
Feelgood light read
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley. An enjoyable light read with enough drama to keep the reader interested. Mainly set in on a farm in rural Wales wi... READ MORE
A tale of new beginnings, community and hope
This was a delightful gentle read. Alex, who has previously managed to sidestep any real responsibilities, finds herself left a Welsh sheep farm in the wil... READ MORE
Very enjoyable debut novel
A really good debut novel by the author, it flows well and I liked the characters, except the ex-footballer, obviously. I would have liked a bit more about... READ MORE
Great book
Alex writes for an online gossip site. Her heart isn’t really in it though as she’s not that interested in ruining people’s lives. She doesn’t have a great... READ MORE
A Perfect Cosy Read
A warm, homely and comforting read. I got lost and absorbed in this outstanding debut from Clare Balding. It featured a strong cast of characters, humour... READ MORE
Fabulous book
This book is fabulous! This is as varied as the talents of the author - from a London journalist who has been left a farm, and has no clue... to the farmer... READ MORE
A really enjoyable read
A good read. A really enjoyable story when Alex inherits a rundown farm from someone she doesn't know she is surprised but thinks her parents know more tha... READ MORE
Alex inherits a farm in Wales
I enjoyed reading Pastures New. A cosy read.
Journalist Alex who gets left a farm in Wales and learn about the struggle of farming, making new friends and... READ MORE
Enjoyable light read
I read this book courtesy of NetGalley. An enjoyable light read with enough drama to keep the reader interested. Mainly set in on a farm in rural Wales w... READ MORE
A hug of a book
4* Pastures New - Clare Balding - a fun and quirky book which feels like a big warm hug.
Alex works as a contributor to an online gossip magazine/websi... READ MORE
A beautiful, feel good, debut novel.
A beautiful,feel good, debut novel!
The author has ensured the reader is engaged in the narrative, from the very first page.
We follow Alex on a funny,... READ MORE
New beginnings in the Welsh valleys
Clare Balding’s debut book is a heartwarming intriguing story, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading.
The setting is an outlying Welsh sheep farm which Alex ha... READ MORE
Glorious slice of country life! Loved it!
What a glorious slice of country life! Heartwarming and knowledgeable this is wonderful comfort reading and escapism, together with a load of gorgeous dogs... READ MORE
Very enjoyable!
For almost 40 years, Alex has thumbed her nose at responsibility, until an unexpected letter turns everything upside down.
Alex is working as a journali... READ MORE
Great debut novel.
Hadn’t read anything by Clare Balding before. Didn’t even know she was a writer. Was pleasantly surprised. Lovely writing style which was a joy to read. G... READ MORE
Cozy fiction debut
Alex is a journalist living in London but is starting to doubt that her life is what she wants it to be. When she is left a sheep farm in the middle of rur... READ MORE
A great fiction debut
A fantastic debut novel from Clare Balding. A story told with such warmth with great characters it had me hooked right from page one. This is a great book ... READ MORE
An enjoyable read
An enjoyable read that gives an insight into the sheep farming and horse racing worlds. When Alex unexpectedly inherits a Welsh sheep farm she moves there ... READ MORE
Great read
Clare Balding's debut novel is a good read. I pretty much expected it to be farming/ horse based and was really pleasantly surprised at how readable I foun... READ MORE
Enjoyable read
A really good debut novel by the author, it flows well and I liked the characters, except the ex-footballer, obviously. I would have liked a bit more about... READ MORE
A tale of new beginnings, community and hope
This was a delightful gentle read. Alex, who has previously managed to sidestep any real responsibilities, finds herself left a Welsh sheep farm in the wil... READ MORE
Feel good.
Feel good debut novel.
Neatly put to the fore the problems of farming with very little budget, or none as the case maybe.
A mixture of career, family... READ MORE
Cosy comforting read
Easy read, heart warming and comforting book.
Alex has been working for a magazine that publishes the dirt on ‘celebrities’, which goes down great with th... READ MORE
Loved it!
I was sent a copy of Pastures New by Clare Balding to read and review by NetGalley. This novel was exactly as I thought it would be. It is quite gentle a... READ MORE
Country living
Well, initially it didn’t grab me. Then it all fell into a gorgeous well written storyline which kept me interested until the end. Loved the atmosphere of ... READ MORE
An adorable read
Oh my, now this was the perfect book to kick off my autumnal reads, I feel like I’ve just had the biggest, cosiest hug and I already want to settle down wi... READ MORE
Fantastic first novel
A really fantastic first novel. A great insight into some of the struggles of farming. A great collection of characters and I loved the way she brought the... READ MORE
A Welsh farm and its new owner
Alex is a reporter for a society magazine but is getting fed up with it. Then she unexpectedly inherits a farm! This is a story full of characters you grow... READ MORE
A legacy changes her life.
Clare Balding has come up with a very pleasing story of a 40 year old woman finally finding cher niche in life. The lead character, Alex, has flitted in an... READ MORE
Perfect Autumnal Read
This is the perfect autumnal read as we are going into that cosy time of year where we can snuggle up under a blanket with a book to read. It’s heartwarmin... READ MORE
Such a delightful and magical read!
This is just the loveliest book! I really really really enjoyed this book!
The story follows Alex, a journalist who has lost her job due to being replac... READ MORE
A wonderfully easy read that you could feel Claire sitting beside you telling the story
Having read her autobiography I was curious how she would tackle a novel. It was a wonderful easy read and flowed just like she talks to us all on the tv, ... READ MORE
A lovely read; one to enjoy!
Lovely, heartwarming thought provoking story of those moments in life when opportunity presents itself in the strangest of ways.
I loved Clare’s writing a... READ MORE
An interesting read
A good read. A really enjoyable story when Alex inherits a rundown farm from someone she doesn't know she is surprised but thinks her parents know more tha... READ MORE
Feel good book
A debut novel which I would describe as a feel good book written with a lot of insight. I always applaud authors who write on subjects they have knowledge ... READ MORE
perfect holiday/wet weather reading
Freelance journalist, Alex, loses her regular work and almost immediately inherits a sheep farm in the Welsh countryside. -a complete mystery why a friend ... READ MORE
Fabulous, heart warming story set in the Welsh Borders.
This book is about a journalist who inherits a farm from a man she doesn’t know. Being set not far from where I live in Wales, definitely added to my enjoy... READ MORE
A Perfect Cosy, Countryside Escape
A warm, homely and comforting read. I got lost and absorbed in this outstanding debut from Clare Balding. It featured a strong cast of characters, humour, ... READ MORE
More than meets the eye
This is a rom-com that is a fun read as the story follows Alex as she discovers that she has inherited a sheep farm in Wales. Far removed from her life as ... READ MORE
Heart warming
Clare Balding is better known to me as a TV presenter, it was this fact that drew me to read 'Pastures New' which is her first adult fiction novel.
The st... READ MORE
Loved This Book so much, it’s such a Heartwarming Read!
I loved this book! I started reading this book on Sunday and I couldn’t put it down, well I had to but only to sleep and then I finished it on Monday. I ju... READ MORE
A delightful read from start to finish
Alex is a society reporter for a tell all online publication. She is approaching 40, unattached with no ties or responsibilities, apart from her mortgage. ... READ MORE
Light and lovely
Alex is approaching forty, discontented with her job and life in London, and single. She has good friends but that's it. Then one day she receives a lett... READ MORE
Heartwarming Story of New Beginnings
Pastures New is a delightful story of fresh starts, of community - and of course, lots of four legged friends!
When journalist Alex unexpectedly inherit... READ MORE
One of my books 2025
Wow. I loved this . I like Clare Balding and I love this fiction book she has written.. You have an inheritance that does not make sense, horse racing, lam... READ MORE
Dogs, Secrets, and Second Chances
Clare Balding’s debut novel Pastures New is a warm and gentle story about Alex, a London journalist who unexpectedly inherits a sheep farm in Wales. Swappi... READ MORE
A very enjoyable read.
This is a really feel good read by the author. A lovely, well written story, with plenty of animal, as well as human characters. Just a perfect summer read... READ MORE
A brilliant read
When you see a book written by a well known celebrity, I am always unsure if it will be any good or not, but I have liked Clare Balding a lot over the year... READ MORE
Lovely book, very interesting.
Alex has muddled along in life for nearly 40 years. It infuriates her Mother and is a bone of contention every time they meet. On her Christmas visit, tw... READ MORE
Pleasant beach read
3.5*
This is quite a heart warming story and I am sure that there will be loads of readers who will love it but sadly it wasn't for me. I really like Clar... READ MORE
Cozy and Heartwarming
This is a delightful and heartwarming read. Clare Balding shines as a storyteller, crafting a cast of intriguing and engaging characters. The story follows... READ MORE
A nice gentle read
Alex works as a journalist for an online paper that prides itself on dishing the dirt on the rich and famous. She has managed to breeze through life withou... READ MORE
You may also like...
I Who Have Never Known Men
Price: £9.99
Hamnet
Price: £10.99
The Housemaid
Price: £10.99
The Wedding People
Price: £10.99
The Names
Price: £9.99
Yesteryear
Price: £16.99
Flesh
Price: £9.99
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop
Price: £9.99
Wild Dark Shore
Price: £9.99
Land
Recommended Retail Price: £25.00Price: £19.99
The Things We Never Say
Price: £18.99
The Long Shoe
Price: £9.99
Land
Price: £25.00
The Divorce
Price: £9.99
Atmosphere
Price: £9.99
The Impossible Fortune
Price: £9.99