This was a real easy read, I enjoyed reading about this family and there were a few twists that were interesting. I thought the big reveal at the end was a bit obvious and did not feel the surprise that all the other characters did. The ending wrapped up pretty nicely, and I didn’t expect that.

Title: We Are the Brennans
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.2 out of 5

When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. But it's not easy. She deserted them all—and her high school sweetheart—five years before with little explanation, and they've got questions.

Sunday is determined to rebuild her life back on the east coast, even if it does mean tiptoeing around resentful brothers and an ex-fiancé. The longer she stays, however, the more she realizes they need her just as much as she needs them. When a dangerous man from her past brings her family's pub business to the brink of financial ruin, the only way to protect them is to upend all their secrets—secrets that have damaged the family for generations and will threaten everything they know about their lives. In the aftermath, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes—and ultimately find a way forward, together.

I do love a good family saga—even if this is only about one generation of a family (or, more accurately, about one short span of time in a single family). The family is quirky but entirely likable, and I enjoyed getting to know them. They’re hiding lots of secrets, too, and it was fascinating watching them be uncovered. This was just an enjoyable read.

Tracey Lange is from the Bronx and now lives in Oregon. We Are the Brennans is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of Celadon Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 8/11.)

To the outside the Brennans look like the perfect family, full of love, talent and success. Beneath the surface, however, the Brennans are all hiding their fair share of secrets and failures, secrets that, while kept with the best intentions, have the potential to bring about lasting and devastating consequences. When Sunday Brennan crashes her car after a night of drinking in Los Angeles, she returns home to New York after a five year absence to find that almost everything has changed. As she works to rebuild her life, someone from her past threatens to stand in her way, determined to destroy her family and the perfect image they attempt to portray. ⁣

We Are the Brennans is an enjoyable novel that is so effective at showing the power of secrets as well as the power of strong family bonds. The story is presented through the eyes of multiple characters, giving the reader a complete feel for the personalities and motivations of the family members. There are also the occasional flashbacks that are perfectly placed, providing background information at just the right times. We Are the Brennans is an honest novel, secrets and all, and I highly recommend it.

This book was good! I enjoyed the Brennan family dynamic. The author did a great job editing multiple narrators and making the switch extremely easy to follow! The plot was a little lackluster and slow but in the end, this was a solid four star!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I am a sucker for stories about big messy families and the synopsis of this book caught my attention so I was thrilled to be approved for an ARC. And this book was so wonderfully written I wanted to climb in the pages and stay with the Brennans.

Tracey Lange's debut is a beautifully written saga about a messy Irish family. Sunday Brennan is living in LA in a self imposed exile from her three brothers, dad, and ex-fiance. She left them all behind five years ago because something happened she didn't want to talk about. As the book opens Sunday is in a car accident and the emergency contact is her oldest brother, Denny. Denny isn't thrilled about flying from New York to LA to see Sunday. He feels she left him with a mess to look after- their dad is suffering from early dementia, their youngest brother is developmentally challenged, Denny's own marriage is a mess, and he's at risk of losing the family pub. The pub being a joint business venture with his best friend, Kale, who also happens to be Sunday's ex-fiance. Denny brings Sunday home to recover from her accident and that is where the story takes off. We get to know the characters as the chapters alternate between their POVs.

I loved these people and all of their flawed ridiculously bad decisions. I admit there were times I wanted to smack them for their lack of communication with each other, yet it all made sense for them to make the choices they did. I was worried it would feel too wrapped up at the end, but the author did a great job of making me want more, but also feeling as though the Brennans were going to be ok. I would happily revisit this family for more stories about them.

If you enjoy stories about large families and their drama this book is perfect for you! I cannot wait to read more books from Tracey Lange after this spectacular debut!

Thanks to #celadonbooks and #netgalley for the digital arc of #wearethebrennans.

This is a great story about an Irish American family almost torn apart by secrets, but held together by love and loyalty. These characters and the family dynamic felt very relatable - it's easy to see how it all got too much for any one of them to handle alone.

An engaging read from a debut novelist. Interested to see what she writes next.

I absolutely loved this book. I tore through the pages trying to get to the big secret, and it turned out to be not what I expected. If you love family drama this is perfect for you. I loved all the siblings they all had their own secrets as did both parents. My only wish is that the author would have given a voice to Shane. Excellent debut and can’t wait to see what else Tracey Lange has up her sleeve. Thank you NetGalley! 5 stars from me

We Are the Brennans is the novel you want to read if you love a novel built around deeply personal – and sometimes challenging – family relationships. This present day story does a great job of weaving a lengthy history with current events. Between four siblings, their father, current and ex-spouses, and others, there are endless dynamics at play throughout the book and Tracey Lange does a great job of weaving them together. The surprise ending closes it all out perfectly.

Some of my favourite things about this book:
-The name Sunday really grew on me. Aside from Wednesday Addams, I’ve never heard of someone with the name of a day of the week and I kind of like it.
-I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: my favourite love stories are the impossible kind and there are a few of those threads running throughout this book. 💔

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for the chance to read this book before it was published. It came out on August 3rd and is now available everywhere.

Absolutely so excited about this book. It was perfect to listen to on my road trip. Loved it and thought the writing was great.

As my bookstore owner friend says, " I love a book about a fu&%ed up Irish family"! This book really reeled me in. As someone who grew up with lots of siblings, I thought the book really captured how large families interact. While the family loves to talk about each other, there's also lots of deals being made between various sibs and parents: "don't tell... (name of family member)". Aside from the family dynamics, this book is mostly about how past mistakes and secrets, eventually, have consequences. As a family, they can decide how to react. Are they going to support each other, or rip each other to shreds? I enjoyed the characters, and story, as well as the antics of a large family. I would caution, however, that if you are triggered by sexual violence, to skip this book.

What I Liked:

Family Dynamics:

If you grew up in a large household, you'll recognize some of the ways large families operate. There's often one family member who is the responsible one, and many who are oblivious to how much work needs to get done. Of course they are willing to help, when asked. But they are often plugging their ears, so they won't hear the calls for help. Sunday is the caretaker of the family. Perhaps this is because she is the only girl, but I think the men were happy for Sunday Brennan to step in and take care of things. When she leaves, this leaves a hole in the family. Denny steps up. But, like Sunday, he shoulders too much, and it's crushing him. I enjoyed that the family, eventually, sees that other members need help.

Characters:

Sunday Brennan is a woman who's self-assured, and very caring about her family. Which is why it's so puzzling to here sibling, Denny, that she gets into a car accident caused by her drunk driving. Slowly, over the course of the book, we learn that Sunday was changed by a devastating event. It was heart-breaking to see how her life changed overnight. But I loved that she learns to let go of the past, and get on with her life.

Denny, the oldest of the Brennans, was the apple of his mother's eye. He has acquired a deep sense of responsibility for his large family. Which makes facing possible financial ruin all the more terrible. As the coddled son, he's not used to failure. Both Denny and Sunday feel that by lying to their family, they are protecting them. But all it really does is rob them of the opportunity to be supported by those who love them.

Story:

The story centers on something that can be the cause of so much stress in a family. Money problems break up countless marriages and families. I think this is very much in our minds right now, as people deal with job losses and possibly medical bills from the pandemic. Denny is close to losing his business, a pub that he owns with his best friend, and Sunday's ex-boyfriend, Kale.

I think the story shows how crippling money problems can be. Denny feels like he can't confide in his partner, or his wife, about the mounting debt. And this snowballs into lies, and even more debt. This burden is costing Denny his marriage, and risking his friendship with Kale. But Denny tries always to show confidence in the face of calamity. Thankfully, his family is there to help, when he finally tells the truth.

Sunday, is also dealing with the after-effects of lies. Five years ago, something terrible happened to her, causing her, tragically, much guilt and self-loathing. She abruptly leaves and breaks her engagement to Kale. When she returns after her drunk-driving incident, she has to find a way to make peace with what happened, and to accept that Kale has moved on with his life.

Sunday Brennan wakes up in the hospital in LA only to find out she was in a drunk driving accident that she caused. Her emergency contact, her brother Denny, makes her face her mistakes and go back home with him to New York while she heals. When the family pub is facing financial instability, Sunday is forced to face her long time high school sweetheart, and the past troubles that made her leave home for a new life in the first place. A story of family bonds, and fighting for those who love you the most.

This is a very character driven storyline, but I really enjoyed getting to know each of these characters. I loved seeing how the siblings interacted with each other and kind of reminded me of me and my three brothers.

Thank you to @celadonbooks for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is out now!

I was thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley of this book because I had heard so much about it. It absolutely lived up to all the hype. A great family story with ups and downs and very relatable drama. However it had a fairly predictable ending which is why I did not give 5 stars, but boy, it was close!

We Are the Brennans is a good read, exploring the close ties among members of an Irish-American family in NYC, and the secrets each family member holds. Sunday, the only daughter, abruptly left home five years earlier, with the only reason given that she was leaving for a job in L.A.. No one, including her long-term boyfriend Kale, really bought her explanation. They were all bewildered by this sudden departure, but they let her go. She eventually returns home after a serious car accident and a drunk driving charge, in order to support her siblings (including a sweet, intellectually-challenged younger brother) and her aging father, and in particular, to assist with running the family business - an Irish pub. Of course, she finds upon returning, that some things have changed, and eventually, the family's various secrets come to light. The book is a realistic and interesting sketch of family relationships, secrecy, loyalty, and love. It is well-written, and I did find myself cheering for the Brennans, particularly Sunday, but for me, it wasn't a particularly memorable novel.

Meet the Brennans:
Denny-the brother who is kind of responsible for taking care of everyone-he’s trying his best and making some mistakes along the way.
Sunday-the only sister-she used to be the one who took care of everyone else until she left town very unexpectedly 5 years ago, shocking her family and breaking her fiancé’s heart.
Jackie-the brother who dreams of painting but whose dreams got derailed a few years ago.
Shane-the developmentally challenged brother-the purely sweet character that everyone tries to protect.
Mickey-everyone’s dad-he’s losing his memory, he thinks he’s done a pretty good job raising his kids but has some secrets himself.
Kale-the unofficial Brennan-Sunday’s ex-the guys’ best friend.

When Denny gets a call that Sunday was driving drunk and got into an accident, he goes to California to try to convince her to come home to New York.
Denny might resent her a little bit for leaving him to deal with everything and everyone. Jackie has a big bill due to an issue with the law, their dad might be at the early stages of memory loss, their new bar is a bigger challenge than expected etc etc

I think Denny had to feel like Sunday left to get away from everyone, and it put so much strain on Denny that his own marriage is now at risk.

But no one ever asked why Sunday left, not really. They tried early on to get answers abs then basically gave up waiting for her to come home. Life moved on.

When Sunday comes home, it opens a can of worms. Kale wants to know why she left him. Everyone’s secrets start to get uncovered and they are big.

I enjoyed how character driven this book was. This book is about the Brennans, it’s about these people rather than some big event that happens. They are a family that loves each other but each person is realistically flawed. I was surprised that Jackie became the character that I think I liked most. None of their mistakes were enough to make you stop liking them. Family definitely comes first with the Brennans.

I was surprised that the ending felt a bit sudden but I enjoyed the story. I’m so glad I got my hands on a copy on NetGalley. Thanks for sharing the book with me.

“ But she was right. They would do everything they could to protect their father, and each other, because that’s what family did. They all screwed up, made mistakes, hurt one another. But in the end, they came together.”

WE ARE THE BRENNANS published this past Tuesday, August 3, and its a very heartwarming family drama! Thanks so much @celadonbooks and @netgalley for my copies in exchange for an honest review! 4.5 stars!

This book was such a delight. I really enjoy reading family dramas- as long as it’s not my own drama, I’m okay with reading about it 😆

This book shows you the rawness of a family that goes through the same kinds of trials that all families go through. All causes the either seeming small little this, a few big things, and many secrets. A family can either fall apart because of it, or be brought closer together. This book does both, and so seamlessly, you don’t even realize when you’re reading. Maybe because the story starts with the aftermath of an already brown family, and having Sunday return home starts the healing process.

Part of why I love these kinds of books so much, is you get the perspective of each family member, allowing yourself to really get to know and understand why they did what they did. Most of the time, it’s to protect their family or close loved ones.

I really enjoyed this one. If you enjoy family drama, read and enjoyed Ask Again, Yes, then I highly recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were all believable and likeable (well - except for Vivienne and her mother) - and the situations were realistic. This family was far from perfect - what family is? - but they dealt with their flaws and managed them.

The story was interesting and though I did guess the ending, now I'm wondering how they are going to handle it! I have no doubts though, that they will find a way.

Sunday Brennan left her life, fiancée and family in New York five years ago to live in Los Angeles. But now, she lays in an LA hospital broken and banged up, with her older brother suddenly showing up to take her back home. Sunday’s homecoming brings up a lot of unanswered questions, and long buried secrets, but in its heart, nothing is more important than the love of family.

Reading about the Brennans, their family business, and the complex family dynamics is so intriguing and addictive. The way the story is told with each of the family members’ point of views truly digs deep into the family perspective. This is a very strong debut from a very talented writer! What a great story!

Yup, another newly popular book that is well worth the hype!! I honestly wasn’t even excited for this one at first, but then I read it in 2 days. Once I started, I couldn’t stop!

I adored the Brennans and didn’t want the book to end. Someone tell me there’s a sequel??? I need to keep following this family’s lives—I’m invested!!

Well, I never met a Celadon book that I did not love and I do love an Irish family drama!

You had me from the first page! Loved the family, the issues, the character development and alternate point of view. I felt as though I was part of the Brennan's, pictured myself around the table and at the bar. I could see the brick row houses and old neighborhoods.

Sunday was the ultimate dynamic character and please give me some more Kale! I just needed some romance! Even Denny and Theresa could have had a good smooch in there somewhere!

Overall, loved the book! I'm going to have to run out and get myself a physical copy to keep because I know I will have to revisit this family again someday. Well done! Looking forward to more books by this author, but please, just a little bit of steaminess next time! xx

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the digital copy!

thought this was a great debut book about an Irish Family. Flawed but memorable characters. The Daughter Sunday abrubtly left the family for California years ago and recently comes back to her family after a car accident and the close family friend who was her fiance when she left. Secrets abound, family complexities, and the bonds that tie them togther.