I couldn’t wait to get the opportunity to read this book. It was one of my BOTM picks and I was given an ARC by NetGalley.

We Are the Brennans is the story of an Irish-Catholic family fractured by shame and secrets. When eldest daughter Sunday wrecks her car after a night of heavy drinking in LA, she sets her pride aside and moves back east to her family’s New York home. But her once tight-knit family is not as she left it: Her father is losing his memory, her brother is struggling to keep his pub afloat, and her ex-fiancé is now married to another woman. As Sunday tries to keep her head down and find her place in this changed home, tales of past mistakes and long-held secrets unfold, forcing the family to come together, rebuild, and find redemption.

I loved this from the moment I started this book. I was pulled in by the writing and the family interactions. It brings to light secrets we carry to protect others and how family will always come together in times of need.

And I’m so thankful to NetGalley, Celdon Books and the author for this eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital after a drunk driving accident. Her older brother Denny is her emergency contact and he is on his way from New York. He manages to convince her to come back to New York to recover, despite Sunday not having been home since she left 5 years ago. Surrounded by her 3 brothers, her father, and her ex-boyfriend, Sunday tries to figure out how to rebuild her life, while also understanding the problems and dynamics of her family since she's been gone.

This is told in the alternate POVs of the various Brennans and Sunday's ex Kale, most times picking up right where the previous chapter ended, which I really liked. The Brennans face outside forces, but their family bonds are still tight, even when they are at odds with each other. I liked this family - except for the dead mother OMG! - and how they interacted with each other were realistic. I do wish there was more from brother Jackie, since he was the character we heard from the least and he was really interesting to me.

Available August 3, 2021.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After seeing this book all over Book of the Month, I couldn’t wait to get the opportunity to read it myself. And I’m so thankful to NetGalley, Celdon Books and the author for this eARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Right away the author jumps right into the storyline with all the family drama coming into light. But the dialogue pulls you in even more, hearing the siblings banter and sling commentary towards each other, it seems to welcome you into their family as you read on.

As each Brennan family member dealt with their own personal situation throughout the story, you can’t help but notice the endearing camaraderie that they had in the family and it reminds me that sometimes you can grow up in the same family and be completely different adults, but what people do well is show up for their family, celebrate the easy, and to support the hard. I think what I love in this story, is how the parents choices whether they were out in the open, or kept hidden from their children, really set into motion the tragedy and celebrations that the siblings had to navigate. I know that as a parent we say we try our best for our children, and we do the best we can, but there’s a little bit of ownership that we forget to take that our choices as adults will eventually catch up to us whether that’s with privilege or consequence, and sometimes our kids will be left to clean up the mess.

This drama filled story was a perfect reminder of how lies and family secrets are never kept buried for long. Released on August 3rd, it’s a perfect book to put in your TBR list this year.

Surprise, surprise! I have another family drama recommendation for you. Ha! Coming from me, this really shouldn’t be a surprise to you at all. I honestly didn’t know very much about We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange at all. I just knew that it was a debut, and a drama about a large Irish Catholic family. As a major fan of novels focused on family, that was more than enough information for me. I grew up with two older brothers, so it was extremely easy for me to relate to Sunday, the only daughter in the family. The household dynamics, and her point of view seemed so familiar to me. My gosh, this family unpacks a lot of heavy baggage in this relatively short novel. It seems like every single Brennan had a secret they desperately wanted to keep hidden, but were all blown up, and brought to the surface at one point or another. There was an ongoing air of mystery throughout the novel, and each uncovered secret revealed very important details crucial to the Brennan family’s past. What I especially loved about this novel is the format. The author did something extremely unique with the dialogue at the end of each chapter. The chapters would end with one character making a statement, then the following chapter would begin with this same statement, and then flip to the speaker’s perspective. Hopefully that makes sense. I’m terrible at explaining things! Ha! You’ll just have to read it to fully understand. Multiple POVs are my very favorite, so the fun format made it even more enjoyable. I must say that Lange’s writing really captivated me. She successfully delivered a strong character-driven novel, along with a jam-packed plot. You really don’t want to miss this impressive debut. We Are the Brennans releases on August 3rd, and it gets 4/5 solid stars from me!

I was really drawn into this family drama from the intense start. The Brennans were a family who looked perfect from the outside, but each family member was facing personal challenges.
The main character, Sunday, was the only daughter of the family and five years ago she was engaged to the best friend of her oldest brother.
I was disappointed that some of the story lines were not explained well or had no conclusion, which is a bit frustrating as a reader. The was also a really obvious twist toward the end (with the dad) and Sunday's major secret didn't really make sense to me-- it seemed to me like people made a lot of assumptions about what others would think than just being honest. I did enjoy the book overall.

I received an ARC of We Are the Brennans in exchange for an honest review. The Brennan's are an Irish family of three sons and one daughter, Sunday. Sunday is engaged to Kale when something happens and she flees the family. Five years have gone by and she is now returning to the family. Sunday never really told anyone why she left, including her fiance. Now that she is back, it's hard to keep the secret of why she left. However, other things are going on in the family too. One brother, Denny, is trying to hold things together without losing his business but his secrets could end up destroying the family. In order to survive, all secrets must be revealed. The story is told through each family member's view. The author uses the last lines of the previous chapter to begin the next chapter which was a little different writing style.

hat one family in the neighborhood that everyone is so jealous of because everyone thinks their life is just so perfect.

If you’re into dramas surrounding family and friends then this is the book for you. From multiple viewpoints, it follows an Irish Catholic family from Long Island through their dark secrets, misunderstandings and mistakes. I found it to be a little slow at times, but picked up around 50%. The characters and their POV were all realistic, it pulled you in. The Brennans and their friends are close with an unbreakable bond.

The authors writing was really unique the way she ended and started the chapters! I Loved it!

Thank you Tracey Lange, Celadon Book and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Celadon providing physical and NetGalley ARCs of We Are the Brennans! I love family dramas, so I was really excited to read this book. Sunday Brennan is a member of a large Irish family - she's drawn back into their orbit after a DUI forces her back home. While there, she and her family members are forced to confront multiple dark secrets.

I wish this book had had a family tree at the beginning - it took me a while to figure out who everyone was! But once I got the hang of things, I liked reading about their misadventures and mistakes. We get the perspective of each family member plus close family friend Kale, which helps to flesh out the story.

I'd say this book is more character-driven than plot-driven, although there are some plot twists that keep the book going. If you like family dramas, I'd recommend this one. As this is Tracey Lange's debut, I'm looking forward to seeing what she writes in the future. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I really loved this book. I loved all the different POV, and it really made you feel like you were immersed in the family. i've never read anything by Tracey before but i definitely will after reading this story about family and what it means to be there for them.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Solid story of a large Irish catholic family and their poor decisions. Sunday, the only daughter and estranged from everyone, comes home to heal after a drunk driving accident. The family has to come to grips with the reason Sunday moved away and their current financial issues.

Each chapter is told from different characters points of view. Well written but a bit too much victim blaming.

I love a family saga. The summer is always a good season for one. Any time really is a good season for one. The Brennans are a close Irish family. Sunday moved across the coast a few years back and after a car accident, her brother Denny comes to pick her up and bring her home to New York. Sunday's leaving was a mystery to the family except her brother Jackie. She left her relationship with Kale, who co-owns the pub with her family. She left everything. Now she's back and all the reasons why will come to the forefront. While they struggle with their secrets and opening another pub. the family finds it's way back to being who they are.

This book had this really neat concept. Each chapter was told in a different family member's voice but the character's last line in the chapter became the first line in the next chapter told by that character. I really loved that and had never seen it before.

You will really dive into this family. It is a great read.

Thanks to Celadon Books and Netgalley for an advance copy of this wonderful book.

I was given an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very well-crafted book about some kinda unlikable people. I mean, I found them more trying than relatable, but I couldn’t put it down- tore through it in one sitting. Probably easier to love as my family is nothing like this.

This book gave me all the Mare of Easttown vibes without as much blood and gut wrenching drama.
This was our July BOTM book club pick, and I was pleasantly surprised at the way this book evolved. What really drove this story was the character development. These characters were beautifully created and I felt like I understood their drives and fears.
The book opens with Sunday Brennan, always the good sister and good daughter, getting into a major DUI car accident. She bruises and breaks her face and has to come back home to NY after living in Cali for five years.
We slowly learn of the Brennan men in her family and the ex-boyfriend almost husband Kale who she left hanging when she ran away from her NY life.
One of the details I absolutely adored in this book was the way the chapters overlapped themselves ever so slightly. The beginning of each chapter picks up from a different character's POV by repeating the last line of dialogue that occurred. It was really creative and a fun way to keep the story moving.

There are so many secrets occurring between the members of this family. And like all secrets, a lot of pain and heartache could have been prevented with a little communication between the siblings! But I did enjoy watching how it all unfolded. I also like the place where the author ended it. I think it left just the right amount of what next, but the pace was great and story moved.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and think it will be a fun one to discuss in bookclub!

“Shame and guilt are like plagues. And we Irish wield them like weapons and wear them like medals.”

I was quickly swept away by the Brennans and their story. Lange’s portrayal of this beautiful yet flawed family masterfully invites you into their fold. I came to adore these people, even when I was occasionally flabbergasted by them. And when the chips were down, I rooted for them hard.

Sunday fled NY, her fiancé, and her big Irish family five years ago with a secret, and she outran that secret every day…until she hit a concrete barrier. Waking up in a hospital room with her big brother looming over her bed, Sunday realizes that she can’t outrun shame and secrets never really stay buried. The story revolves around Sunday’s secret. But it was never hers alone. Each member of the family suffers the ramifications of her decision.

Each Brennan is unique and multifaceted…four distinct entities, yet they fit together perfectly and create an ideal (albeit a tad dysfunctional) team. Lange expertly depicts the complexities of families…showing the ugly underbelly of family dynamics right alongside their beautiful bond.

Lange’s writing drew me in and kept me hanging on. But those chapter transitions…they deserve a spotlight all their own! Lange is teaching a masterclass on how to seamlessly and creatively transition chapters. Changing the POV in the midst of a scene kept me entranced. It could’ve been messy. It could’ve been convoluted. But NO. This worked. And it kept me spellbound. There was a necessity with which I had to follow the new perspective into the new chapter. Utterly brilliant. (I’ll also note that this brilliance destined me to finish the book in one sitting.)

I loved everything about this book. The characters. The story. The lesson. Well, everything except that it had to come to an end.

Thank you Tracey Lange, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

A good story of a family that has it’s own troubles. Well told and it has a good ending that leaves it open for more Brennan tales.

I was immediately drawn into this family saga. Sunday Brennan returns home to her family after a drunk driving accident in LA. She wasn’t living the life she’d been telling people as her brother discovers when he is called about the accident. But she’s not the only one keeping secrets.
Told from multiple perspectives, I was curious about each one of the family members, along with Denny’s business partner, Sunday’s ex-fiancé. They all just seemed decent human beings making bad decisions.
As an only child, I’ve always been intrigued by large family dynamics. Lange obviously gets them - who gets tasked with carrying the most responsibilities, who gets away with the most. But also, how they’ll rally around each other even when they’re furious.
But it’s more than the characters here, there’s a terrific story as well. I love the whole lost love theme and how there are consequences no matter which way life turns out. I wasn’t surprised by the ending but it didn’t dampen my enjoyment one iota.
I highly recommend this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advance copy of this book.

We Are The Brennans is a beautifully written story about an Irish family with carefully guarded secrets. Sunday, the only girl in the bunch, suddenly moved from New York to California five years earlier and is now back at home with her father and brothers recuperating after a terrible car accident. Is she back.where she belongs or should she continue pursuing her own life across the country from the family that loves her but doesn't understand the secrets of her past?

The story that unfolds is a realistic family saga that explores fidelity, loyalty and broken promises. Sunday's youngest brother Shane has special needs and their mother was never able to look past his disabilities. Her brother Jaime is currently on probation and trying to stay out of trouble. Her oldest brother Denny is working through the financial burdens that go along with owning two businesses and the possible end of his marriage. To top it all off, Sunday's father is in the beginning stages of dementia. Her former fiance is married and has an adorable son. And now Sunday has to decide if she can let go of the past and start fresh....

Five stars for this heartwarming story about the Irish family-next-door that learns to overcome the obstacles in their way with strength, love and fierce family loyalty.

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This is a truly dysfunctional family story with all the participants harboring many secrets from the past. The daughter, Sunday, leaves the family in New York and suddenly moves to the west coast under the pretext of a job opportunity and finding herself. She returns five years later and all the lies and deceptions start to surface. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the family members. Each one of their deceptions have had major consequences on the family. The strict Irish Catholic background also plays an important role. This is a family drama that will be devoured by many. #WeAreTheBrennans #TraceyLange #NetGalley

What a fantastic read! We Are the Brennans is hands down a novel that will be one of my top favorites for 2021! Centering around the Brennan family, an Irish Catholic family that share strong bonds, but also have enormous secrets.

I knew from the description this was a book I had to read, but Tracey Lange exceeded all of my expectations and truly wow’ed me! I love reading novels about large families and Tracey Lange does a wonderful job examining the intricate dynamics between siblings. The storyline was well planned out and I found this 5 star novel impossible to put down. I grew so attached to the entire cast of characters that I spent a loooong time daydreaming about how Tracey could make this novel into a series because I didn’t want to say goodbye to them! We Are the Brennans is a novel you NEED to read, I highly recommend it to everyone!

This book deserves every superlative I can think of. From the first to the last page, I never put it down. This is the story of a tightly knit Irish family, set in a New York suburb. They are a family that has many secrets which are revealed when the adored daughter of the family, SUNDAY, is forced to return home following an auto accident. Her return serves as a catalyst for the story.

Soon, all the siblings and close friends and family must confront all the lies that have been buried. They are complicated, emotional and financial, and their revelation leads leads to a rather shocking ending.
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This should be a choice for book clubs and readers who will compare it to the writing of J. Courtney Sullivan and Mary Beth Keane. No doubt, this will be on all the BEST OF 2021 lists, just a wonderful novel.

Thank you Netgalley for such an extraordinary reading experience.