I don't know what to say. The writing is good and the characters were amazing. But I just could connect with the story like I thought and hoped I would. But in the end its still a very good book and I know the world will love it.

This is one of those books that I didn’t expect to like as much as I did. Family dramas can be so hit and miss for me and I’m happy to report that this one was a win!

I listened to the audio and it was fantastically narrated.

The family dynamics and unique personalities of the siblings were so well written. The characters were likeable and had my favourite elements in characters - flawed, but real.

I loved how the story unfolded and secrets were related. The writing style was unique and I can’t wait to read more from this author.

Definitely a great bookclub pick!

This is my absolute favorite book of 2021. Sunday is the only sister in a pretty traditional Irish American family. She ends up in the hospital after a dunk driving accident in California. She must return to NY and face her reasons for leaving all of those years ago.

If you’re fan of family dramas this might be the book for you! There were quite a few characters to keep straight, but once I did I found myself hooked on The Brennans and intrigued by their past, I kinda just wish it had gone a little deeper. Their irish background was heavily referenced but I felt like it wasn't even needed to propel the plot.

I did appreciate the length of time it took to get to the crux of the story, or the "master" per se. Some books can be annoying in how the drag you along, knowing you are missing something, but with this book it felt pretty natural to me.

Very engaging! I couldn't wait to find out what secret was going to be revealed next and wondering if and how it would all work out in the end. I listened to the audio version and I didn't care for the narrator but I imagine this was more personal so don't discount it because of that.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to an advanced copy of this novel. My review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

5 stars for Tracey Lange's We Are the Brennans. If you enjoy family dramas, pick this one up! Thank you to Celadon Books for the review copies!

I mostly listened to the audiobook, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, and she was fabulous! The emotions carried through her voice so well, and obviously, the Irish accents were a plus! It added that extra something special to the story, and I would definitely recommend the audio for this one!

In her mid-20s, Sunday Brennan shocked everyone when she left her tight-knit family and fiance by moving across the country from NY to LA. 5 years later, her brother gets a call that she's been in a serious drunk driving accident, and he flys out to bring her home. Her return stirs up old heartbreak, emotions, secrets, and family drama.

Before going in, I didn't know much about this book, but it was such a nice surprise, a beautiful story about family and love.

It was nice to read this pleasant Irish family drama on a day that the State of Texas stepped back in time 50 years. While far from a perfect novel ( the premise for Sunday leaving her family and the love of her life for five years was weak), “We Are the Brennan’s” kept me reading and turning the pages. It allowed me to forget, for a few hours, the Neanderthals who run the state of Texas. ( Sorry, I know I’m being unfair to Neanderthals.) The ending of this novel also appeared quite abrupt…unless Lange is planning a sequel.
Recommended for those who can’t get enough Family sagas.
#NetGalley #WearetheBrennans

Every family has complicated issues and drama behind closed doors, even the ones that appear the most perfect on the outside. That’s the heart of We are the Brennan’s. Secrets collide as the stories unfold.

4.5/5
We are the Brennans is a family drama about an Irish American Family living in a suburb in New York, they own a bar in town and have deep roots in their community. The Brennan’s also have years of uncovered secrets that begin to unravel throughout this book which leaves every family member affected in one way or another.

This book felt like home in many ways, coming from a close knit Irish Family myself, the intricacies and relatability of the story really stood out to me and I’ve been thinking about it ever since I finished. Needless to say I really hope there’s a sequel, but I’m getting a bit ahead of myself.😅

I was drawn in from the first page and became immersed and invested in the life of each of the Brennan’s as the story unfolded. Every character makes bad decisions but you some how wind up loving the story and characters more for it, it’s a real family with real problems - despite majority of the problems being of their own making. Things do take a turn for the worst when the well kept secrets and generationally imprinted sense of shame are discovered, that being said it does manage to bring them closer and mend fences and right wrongs in the end. I absolutely loved the way this book was written, each chapter written from a different view point with the first line carried over from the last chapter and that really brought forth the ability to fully understand the story from each side and allowed the story to flow so smoothly.

This is a fantastic Debut from Tracey Lange, I look forward to reading whatever she releases next. If you enjoy fast paced family dramas, filled with secrets and complicated relationships - We Are The Brennans is a read you’d likely enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook!

This novel tells the story of a family torn apart by secrets that is reunited when one member is involved in a drunk driving accident that causes her to return home and face everyone she deserted five years ago with little explanation.

We Are the Brennan’s was one of the better family drama’s I’ve read this year. It illustrates the closeness of a family that does their very best to take care of each other no matter the circumstances. I enjoyed reading about all of the relationships within this family and their circle of people involved in the family business. The characters were flawed and real and easy to empathize with. It is definitely a more character driven novel, but it had some twist moments I wasn’t expecting that kept me a little more locked in to the story and invested. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would recommend picking it up!

I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook! The author performed it very well and I enjoyed the Irish accent sprinkled throughout with certain characters!

This book was fantastic. I was so engrossed in the lives of the characters. The only downfall to this book is that it ended. I would love a sequel. I am recommending (and pushing) this as a monthly selection for my book club at our September meeting! I cannot wait to discuss this one with the group!

We are the Brennan’s is a book about family and the love a family shares with one another. Families aren’t perfect and this one definitely isn’t, but they have each other’s back! While reading this book I had so many The Family Stone vibes. I loved all the different dynamics between the members in this family. I loved how they truly loved one another, but had their own demons they were fighting which sometimes got in the way. I could not put this one down!

But without further ado, here is my ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review for We are the Brennans. You guys. This was SO good. So, so good. Family drama, secrets, lovable characters...the works! My favorite thing about the writing was that each chapter ended with a line of dialogue and that same dialogue was the beginning of the next chapter. I loved knowing where the story was headed and who the next chapter would be about. I super highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a family drama and really great writing!

I am always biased to stories that involve characters from Ireland because I lived there for a short time when I was younger. I was also a competitive Irish Dancer growing up 👉🏻 to see evidence of Kathryn dancing through the years and some of my favorite spots in Ireland 💚

Thanks so much to @netgalley for an audio arc of #WeAretheBrennans! I enjoyed it so much I made it my @botm choice so I could have it in hardback 📗

I did not expect to, but I really loved this book. I wish my Irish family stuck together like the Brennans did. If you like family driven books with a tiny bit of thrill, this one is definitely for you. The writing was beautiful, and so were the characters. I would really love to hear more from them.

A novel full of tension, secrets, and drama? Yes, please. We Are the Brennans is a story about a large dysfunctional Irish family. The story begins with Sunday getting into a drunk driving accident in Los Angeles. The cops contact the eldest brother in the Brennan family living in New York. When Denny arrives in California, he learns his sister's life is anything but a Californian dream.

I found myself invested in the story of this family from page one. The characters are all flawed individuals that must come to terms with the secrets and the decisions they made. The ending wasn't my favorite, but I enjoyed reading the character development throughout.

But my favorite part of the book has nothing to do with plot, drama, or characters. I loved the way Tracey Lange wrote We Are the Brennans. Each chapter is from the point of view of the Brennans and the people closest to them. The way Lange transitioned from character to character at the end and the start of each chapter was creative and unique.

Overall, We Are the Brennans is full of flawed characters making terrible, terrible decisions. Is the book a little melodramatic? Yes. But what story about a large dysfunctional family isn't?

If you like plot-heavy books, We Are The Brennans will probably not be for you. Character development drives this story to its ending. Even though I loved the writing and the characterization, I still felt there was something was missing, like we were just invited to the surface of the drama. I think I wanted more scandal, more juicy situations, more drama, and fighting between family members.

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 (Rounded up)

This was quite an enjoyable read. As someone from a tiny family, I'm always intrigued by the dynamics in a large family and this was no exception. The love everyone has for each other is evident and they're always there for each other.

There's a lot of characters introduced but once you get to know them, they story flows nicely. There's multiple POVs but Sunday is the main. I couldn't help but root for her. I was expecting more family drama but the story really focused on how an incident in Sunday's past affected everyone.

I loved this book way more than I expected! It starts off kind of slow and it was confusing because of so many characters being introduced. Once you start to get a hang of the main important characters, this story flows so well. I loved the character development, feeling the love this family has for eachother, and it made me so committed. I listened to the audio, and it is definitely my favorite audiobook so far !

Sunday Brennan left home 5 years ago after an incident that has been kept from her family all this time. After a car accident lands Sunday in the hospital, her brother comes and takes her home. Everyone is so surprised and happy to see her, even her ex boyfriend Kale who she left with no explanation, all those years ago. The Brennans own a pub, and are opening a second location, but when things start happening, Sunday finally needs to tell her truth.

This is an amazing story about how family will always be there for eachother. Loyalty to those you love trumps anything they may have done or anything that has been done to them. Every character played an important role in this story, but I loved feeling the tension between Sunday and Kale, and rooting for them. This was told between multiple POV's which I loved, but with Sunday bring the main character.

If you've started this book and put it down because it starts slow, please keep going ! If you haven't picked this up yet, go do it now !

Thank you to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for my copy of this book !

Here with another enthusiastic review of WE ARE THE BRENNANS for your feed 🍀

This was definitely a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt book, and I’m so happy I picked it up. Thanks for my copy @celadonbooks!

The book opens with Sunday Brennan, in LA, drunk driving. This first scene is so well-done, so off-putting (and potentially triggering) that I knew it was going to be an emotional book.

And I was right! The first half was a little bit of a slow burn, leading up to a second half that I couldn’t put down. This book examines just how far we’re willing to go to protect our family, both biological and chosen.

I recommend this one for anyone who loves a good family story like THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD.

I thought this audio book was great. The book, itself, was fine. It did not entertain me and hook me like I originally thought it would. It was still a fine read, just left something to be desired.

I'm starting to think that audiobooks aren't for me. Or maybe I just haven't listened to the right one yet. I found this one particularly hard to follow, especially with all the different characters introduced relatively quickly.

I did find the story an interesting one. Although the cheating and divorce was not ideal, bu real-life I suppose. The cousin/aunt characters were hard to place. Kept forgetting who they were when mentioned. I don't think the story translated well visually for me. The ending was quite predictable.