Tracey Lange, author of the amazing book We Are the Brennan’s, did what not many authors can do by writing a second book that surpasses her first in excellence. Tara, Eddie, and Geraldine are siblings that from a young age had nothing but each other to rely on. The book starts with Tara getting released from prison and returning home to live with her siblings and nephew. Lange did such a masterful job of making the characters so realistically flawed but so likable that I felt connected to each one and rooted for all of them, even when they were wildly imperfect. Not only did the sibling relationship ring so true but the relationship between Brian and Tara was perfect despite their relationship being far from being usual.
I loved this book and was honestly sad to see it end. I think the publishers, Celadon books, and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

A wonderful story of the love three siblings have for each other and the trials and tribulations they go through to keep themselves together.
Tara is the main focus of the story, she is strong, resilient and flawed. Her older sister Geraldine has been responsible for Tara and Eddie since their mother died and their dad left at an early age. Eddie suffers from a traumatic brain injury and has always been closest to Tara. When Tara is released from prison after serving time for a drug charge she moves back home with her siblings to try to fit back in. There's tension with Geraldine and Eddie tries to be the go between but it's her love for Eddie's son Connor that keeps Tara grounded. All three make questionable choices along the way but the decisions they make always have each other in mind.

I loved the author's debut and she followed it up with another stunner. I was totally invested in the family's dynamics and all the characters in the story are so well drawn and real that I felt like I knew them personally. Coming from a very dysfunctional family myself it was great to see how these three really cared for each other when all is said and done. It's amazing what love can do if you just open yourself up to it. If you're a fan of character driven stories with family at the center then I highly recommend you pick this one up when it is released. I'm confident you'll be thinking about it long after you've finished.

Thank you to Celadon Books for the invitation to read a NetGalley copy.
#celedonreads

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ /5

I went into this book pretty blind and I am so happy I did. I couldn't put it down and was run through the full range of emotions with the Connelly siblings.

Tara's selflessness was as beautiful as it was destructive for her. Her absolute commitment to her family and ensuring their safety was written so well. The way you slowly understood her reasoning for her choices and how the siblings shared childhood traumas had such a lasting impact on each of them was handled with such care. Eddie was such an absolutely beautiful character. He was so layered and I loved learning more and more about him as the story went on. Geraldine was so complex and I really felt for her and her struggles.

This really was a story of a family that loved beyond reason, despite their shared imperfections. I was overwhelmed with the emotions pouring off the page through each of their POVs as they added so much more richness to the story and allowed me to understand the motivations of their actions.

I still feel the impact of this story and find that the longer I sit with it the more I love it. I am so beyond thankful I was able to read this book and will definitely be looking into other works by this author.

If you’re looking for your next great read, filled with family drama + secrets + the struggle to start over & to move beyond your past, then THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN by TRACEY LANGE is for you.

I feel in fast love with TRACEY LANGE’s debut, WE ARE THE BRENNANS, and was beyond excited to read her latest.

Set in the same suburbs as BRENNANS (with a much appreciated wink) we meet 30-year-old Tara Connelly as she’s leaving prison after serving 18 months for a drug charge. With no money and no job Tara makes the somewhat reluctant return home to live with her her sister Geraldine, her brother Eddie and her nephew Conor.

But coming home again and rebuilding her life is far from easy. Tara’s returns sparks immediate tension - upending the well-crafted routines Geraldine has put into place and placing Eddie in the middle of his sisters fights. When Brian Nolan, the cop who helped put Tara in prison, starts coming around, looking for answers to questions Tara refuses to provide, her life gets increasingly more complicated.

This is a slow burn story exploring the complex relationships between siblings. They each have secrets to protect and are shouldering their own traumas. They are messy and struggling and in many ways still grappling with the death of their mother and their father’s subsequent abandonment. There is no lack of challenges facing the Connellys and the question is can they get beyond the past and carve out futures for themselves?

I really enjoyed having the POVs of the siblings and of Brian. And as someone who grew up around the area where the book is set I appreciated the familiarity.

I also received an audiobook ARC of this book so huge thanks to Macmillan Audio, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. And shoutout to Barrie Kreinik for an outstanding audiobook narration.

I was looking forward to reading this book as I really enjoyed her first book We Are The Brennans. Unfortunately, this was not as good. The story seemed to drag. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this prior to its publication.

A family saga centering on three siblings - each dealing with their messy, shameful childhood in their own way. As questionable decisions, secrets and misguided deceptions mount, its pretty clear there are no easy answers to the age old question - just how far are we willing to go to protect those we love? And when does our ‘help’ become just the opposite?

Tara Connelly - a thirty-year-old convicted drug-trafficking felon, former art teacher and sibling to Eddie and Geraldine, is on the cusp of release from her eighteen-month prison sentence, the uncertainty of her future looming.

Eddie, her brother, a single dad, battles the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury, as he struggles with migraines, seizures, memory issues and the rocky road they leave him on, in his attempts to provide emotional and financial stability for his young son.

Geraldine, the oldest of the three, who has raised her brother and sister from the age of nineteen, has deeply entrenched her family role as the sensible caretaker- a role as suffocating now at thirty-seven years old as it is untenable.

Without giving the plot away, (no spoilers here), this is a story of love, and learning, and letting go, - and a family’s ultimate journey to healing, with plenty of stops, and starts, and misfires along the way.

A good read, this book will appeal to lovers of family-driven character-rich fiction.

A great big thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

Tracey Lange’s previous book was an immediate hit for me. When I saw a new book by her coming out, I was immediately drawn to it and very excited to dive in. I will admit that I struggled through the first 25% or so, not really connecting or investing myself with any characters or the story lines, but once it took off, it REALLY took off.

It’s hard to decide if you like these characters, feel sorry for them, or see a lot of yourself in them. I think that’s the beauty of Lange’s writing though - the words really make you sit back and think and reflect. This book was quite short, but it packed a lot of punch through the storylines that all intertwined. It was beautiful, raw, emotional and relatable. If you’re looking for a character driven family drama, this book is for you!

The Connellys of County Down is a character driven family drama about three siblings that had a difficult childhood who stay living together into adulthood. Youngest sister Tara is fresh off a stint in jail trying to get her life back on track. Her sister Geraldine has been taking care of everything for their brother Eddie and his son Conor in Tara’s absence. Now that she’s home and trying to adhere to the stipulations of her parole, the stress of the last two years come to a head.

I really enjoyed this story. It immediately grabbed my attention, and I was fully invested early in the Connelly’s tale. I loved that it was written in 4 POVs. Seeing how each sibling and the detective was coping with Tara’s case gave the story so much emotional depth. My only note is that I wish there were a few more chapters at the end! I wanted a little more closure for the family, I loved spending time with these characters. Lange’s writing style is so beautiful. I can’t wait to pick up We Are the Brennans.

Thank you, Celadon and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

My Ratings:
Plot ★★★★
Reading Experience ★★★★★
Characters ★★★★★
Writing Style ★★★★★

Overall ★★★★.75

Tara Connelly has just been released from prison and her sister, Geraldine, never showed to pick her up. Detective Nolan just happens to be at the prison and offers her a ride home. The problem: he is the one who put her behind bars. Out of choices, Tara accepts the ride and returns to the home she shared with her sister Geraldine and her brother Eddie and his son, Conor. As the family acclimates to Tara's return, Tara finds a job, returns to caring for her siblings, but also is determined to find answers to her lingering questions about her family. But Tara is not the only one digging into her family's secrets. So is Nolan's partner, Hank. To add to complications, Tara can't seem to follow the rules set by her Parole officer and finds herself in trouble... again.

I really enjoyed this novel about family, loyalty, the secrets we keep to protect our loved ones. All 3 siblings are scarred by the loss of their parents and are bonded deeply to each other. The lengths they go to take care of each other are flawed but guided by the truest of intentions. The characters are complicated and messy but ultimately want what is best for everyone.

Thank you to Celadon and Netgalley for an early digital review copy of this novel.

Having read and thoroughly loved Tracey Lange’s debut novel, WE ARE THE BRENNANS, I was excited to get my hands on her new novel, THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN. Lange has again written a book about a family that has problems, but is united in love for each other. The book opens with Tara, a former art teacher, being released from prison after serving time for transporting drugs. She is returning home to her family consisting of an older sister, Geraldine, who runs the show, her older brother Eddie, who suffered an injury which has lingering brain trauma, and his ten-year-old son, Conor. Their mother passed away, and their dad is estranged from the family. Add to this picture,the cop who arrested Tara just happens to be at the prison and gives her a ride home.

I was a little frustrated with how slowly the story seemed to develop; however, around the thirty-five percent mark, it picked up and I found myself thoroughly engaged. I loved how Conor was called on to interject a joke when someone was out of sorts. I loved how this story came together in the end. I might have shed some tears several times! I do wish there had been an epilogue added—maybe five or ten years in the future. Or, could we see these characters in a sequel. My thanks to Celadon Books, Bookishfirst, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange
Release Date: 8/1/23
Format: ebook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Let me start by saying We Are the Brennans is one of my all time favorite books and I was so thrilled to receive an arc of Lange’s new novel (thank you @netgalley)!! And can we drool over this gorgeous cover for a second? I love it 😍

This novel is another Irish-American family drama with messy but lovable characters and an up close examination of what familial love really means. I adored Tara, Eddie, & Conor so much and wanted to protect them at all costs!

This book is only 288 pages but it is a slow read. I’m not saying this as a bad thing, it’s just a story you take your time with. For it feeling slower though, I did feel like the ending was a bit rushed and I was just left with so many questions.

Also, some cop behavior in this book really didn’t sit well with me and I didn’t feel like it was properly addressed.

With that being said, I did really love the overarching story of a family working together to overcome trauma & drama. I would recommend it, I just didn’t love it as much as her debut novel!

#Netgalley #newreleasebooks #bookreview

The Connellys of County Down is the newest novel by Tracey Lange. It features a family of Irish descent living and making their lives in America while still feeling tied to their ancestors in Ireland. Tara is newly released from prison and lives at home with her brother and sister. There are a lot of past troubles among the siblings that make the current living situation stressful. Tracey must now find a job but her record makes that difficult. Her sister feels she's responsible for everyone in her family and that has her doing things she never thought she would. Her brother is dealing with a TBI and the effects of that. If you love family dramas, then this is the book for you! Read and enjoy!

I very much enjoyed this book!!
I loved the fairy tale element, but I wish it played a bigger role.
The writing is excellent and it’s full of family and drama and secrets.
The characters are complex and flawed and they came to life in the pages. The way they move around and react to each other made me feel like I was reading about an actual family, not just characters in a book.

Today Tara is getting out of prison. She’s moving back home with her sister and brother. This family has a lot of secrets that come out during the story. I liked Tara but maybe not some of her decisions. It was a good book and moves rather quickly. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This a story of love, loyalty, and complicated family dynamics. It gave me a little bit of Shameless vibes and I LOVED that show. Tara is incredibly dedicated to her family to a fault and when she gets out of prison, that doesn’t change. She gets into a few complicated situations and you just feel for her so much. I loved how this told a story of someone struggling with mental health issues and someone dealing with a TBI but done so eloquently. I wanted even more, I wasn’t prepared for it to end. An absolute must read and just a really beautiful story.

This was definitely a great family drama. Loved the siblings dynamics and the turmoil of their lives. The story was definitely a bit more dramatic than typical family dramas and could have used an additional 25 pages at the end.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, @CeladonBooks, and Tracey Lange for an ARC of this book!**

"Because he was hoping to save Tara, just like in Mom's fairy tale. But in the fairy tale they had all saved each other."

Tara is finally free: she's done her time in a prison called Taconic, and is aching to get back to the real world outside the walls of confinement. But Tara knows that with a drug charge and prison time on her record forever, finding a new way of life won't be easy. She was formerly an art teacher and has kept her skills sharp by making drawings for the kids of some of her fellow inmates...but with a criminal record, teaching art is out of the question. Will anyone take a chance on her...or will she be forced to take a job befitting of her troubled past?

Aside from her employment woes, going back home means moving back in with her family: high strung accounting whiz Geraldine, who has always kept the family together but may finally be in a BIT over her head, and Eddie, Tara's brother who suffered a traumatic brain injury years ago. Despite his limitations, Eddie still gives his all at his construction job AND tries his hardest be a good father to his adorable son, Connor. While Tara looks at her nephew as though he were her own son, Connor's real mom Andrea is still in the wings of the Connelly's lives also....meaning her drug dealer isn't far behind.

But when the handsome cop who initially arrested Tara offers to drive her home from prison...and keeps showing up on her doorstep...what could he possibly want now? Is he simply trying to get more information about the misdeeds in Tara's past and figure out the secrets that bind the Connellys together? Or is he on a quest to really KNOW Tara ...even better than she knows herself?

Though I had the misfortune to miss out on Lange's debut We Are the Brennans, after reading countless rave reviews, I considered Lange a must-read author and was VERY excited to get the chance to read an early copy of this one...and now I see what the hype was all about! The first couple of chapters in this one felt a bit slow and wordy to me, while Lange was establishing character...but by the end of chapter 3, I was COMPLETELY hooked! There are plenty of thriller-esque just-one-more-chapter endings to Lange's chapters...so consider yourself warned!

The Connelly family is so beautifully penned, and each character and side character not only has RELEVANCE, but feels fresh off the pages of life itself. Lange doesn't waste a word or a moment; you get a very early sense of who these characters are early on, but at the same time, as the story unfolds, these truly feel like friends that you've gotten to know over several YEARS, with all the frustration and joy that comes with TRULY knowing the good, bad, and ugly about someone you love unconditionally. While teeny parts of the plot might have been predictable, there is so much about these characters (particularly Tara) that will surprise you. If you loved Mare in Mare of Easttown (a simply PHENOMENAL show you need to drop everything and watch RIGHT NOW if you haven't already) I promise you will LOVE Tara. So much about this book reminded me of that dysfunctional family and the ebbs and flows of their relationships in the wake of trauma and strife.

Lange also captures some of the feelings of unresolved frustration between children who are abandoned by their parents and subsequently had to grow up too fast: the matriarch of the Connelly clan passed away when the children were young, and their father flat-out abandoned them. Before she passed, though, their mother used to tell the children a magical tale about the Connellys of County Down, where each member of the family has magical powers that could save them....IF they can only dig deep enough to rediscover them. Between these journeys of exploration as a family unit and Tara's own personal journey towards self-love, acceptance, and trust, the narrative is full to bursting with emotional tension, highs and lows, and the reader has no choice but to be swept away with the current..and despite the bumps, it's a lovely and touching journey.

Though the Connelly clan might have started their journey living in the fairy tale world that seemed far beyond their reach, by story's end they come to realize that Hans Christian Anderson might have summed it up best: "Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale."

4.5 stars

#CeladonReads #TheConnellysofCountyDown

Rich in character, this novel explores the length and limits of family bonds. It is about love, hopes and dreams, and making the right choices even after previously maybe making the wrong ones. This book will pull at your heartstrings.

I really enjoyed Tracey Lange's first book We Are the Brennans so was looking forward to reading her newest book. This is a good family drama. The plot is a little far fetched but still very enjoyable.

3.75 stars

This was a touching story about the things we do and how far we go to protect family and the repercussions that protection has not just on us but on those we are protecting.

I loved the way the author discussed mental health issues and TBI side effects and normalized therapy. I loved the different perspectives, which really allowed us to see those things more clearly. I felt for Tara so much and her story underscored just how flawed our criminal justice system is, as if we needed additional examples when all we need to do is look at the news. I thought the romance was sweet and loved Tara and Brian together.

I was fortunate to receive both an eARC and audio ARC of this title, and I'm happy to report that the audio narration was well done. I might have liked dual narrators, one male and one female for those respective POVs, but Barrie Kreinik did a great job nonetheless narrating both male and female parts.

The tension built nicely throughout the story, keeping me listening or catching back up in the eBook. I loved how everything came together in the end. If you enjoy character studies, family dramas a touch of romance and a HEA, you'll enjoy this book.