A family, a normal screwed up family doing normal screwed up things. Like her first novel, I found myself very engaged in the beginning, with that pestering out by the end.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

This it not normally my kind of book, but my last name is a variation of Connelly so I felt like I had to. And I'm so glad I did! I loved this group of siblings. They had great character development. Despite trials and tribulations there was love and family at the core of this book and that always gets me.

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange kept catching my eye whenever I read the description, and it was my first novel from the author. In it we meet Tara on the day she is being released from prison and going to live with her sister, brother, and nephew. Each of them is going through their own issues and their family dynamics are messy. Layer in that she is trying to navigate work and relationships after prison and the family drama unfolds.

I love complicated family stories, so this was right up my alley in that sense. The way the siblings navigated each other’s issues with love was well written and had me invested. The plot around Tara having to navigate work and parole after serving time was so interesting to me, but at times felt unrealistic. She was just given so many chances despite messing up repeatedly, I had to suspend reality and focus on the family drama components of the story.

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys sinking into a family of flawed people who are working to accept each other and love each other. It’s a touching sibling story and even with a few stretches on the post-prison storyline, it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for sending the digital and audio editions – I loved switching between them, and I appreciate you!

Content warnings: drug addiction, drug use, mental illness, parent death

[arc review]
Thank you to Celadon Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Connellys of County Down releases August 1, 2023

Lange’s newest novel, much like her debut, is centered around family dynamics and what lengths you would go to in order to protect and support them. Though I will say, this one felt vastly different in terms of writing style.

This is told in multi-pov (4), from Tara, her two siblings Geraldine and Eddie, and the detective that had a hand in putting Tara in prison.

Tara has been in a medium security leveled prison for the past year and a half on drug charges, and has just recently gotten out. The main conflict is figuring out who she took the fall for and kept quiet about this entire time.

I really liked Tara as a character, but me being an only child, I can’t imagine how shitty it would be to be in Tara’s position with siblings like hers. At a certain point you have to say enough is enough and stop enabling others just because they’re blood related.
I found that her relationship with Brian was a little weird and forced given their situation and past history.

Despite the clear indications that Geraldine was struggling with her mental health, I could not warm up to her at any point in this story.
The redeeming factor really was in the nephew who brought relief with all of his jokes and innocence.

The title of this book originates from a fairy tale their mother would tell them as children, and while I can see the greater meanings behind it, the whole superpowers thing felt cheesy.


cw: mental health, hoarding, TBI (brain injury), childhood trauma, absent parents, therapy

This is a story about fierce family loyalty, good intentions gone awry, and the consequences of improbable love. Tara Connelly is 30 years old and being released from prison after serving 18 months for drugs. She knows she has to return home and help her disabled brother and his 3 year old daughter and a sister that is slowly driving herself crazy hiding the family secrets. An emotional story that will have you reaching for a tissue.

Tracey Lange is back with another complicated, messy and moving family drama. In The Connellys of County Down, we meet Tara on her last day of prison, restarting her life after serving an 18 month sentence for drug trafficking. Tara is returning home to her big sister and brother, who are juggling their own past and current problems. The reader sees her trying to navigate finding a job, being an aunt, dealing with her parole officer and settling the debts of her past.

Lange is incredibly talented with character development. Over 28 engrossing chapters, the reader gets to truly know and feel for the Connelly family--including the impossible situations they create for themselves and each other. They are flawed and foolish, but full of love and good intentions.

But what I loved most was the attention to detail woven throughout, specifically the fairy tale and finally finding out their superpowers. I also looked forward to each and every one of Conor's jokes.

I read this in less than 24 hours and couldn't wait to see how things worked out, while also not wanting it to end. Have your tissues handy because this one moved me to tears more than once.

The audiobook is narrated by Barrie Kreinik, who is fantastic. Avid audiobook listeners will likely be familiar with her as I've listened to her many times and she's truly enjoyable, bringing the characters to life.

Thank you to Net Galley, Celadon Books and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to get to know the Connellys. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you so much for the advance copy to read and listen too before the publish date. This is my introduction to this author, and I have already added a previous book to my to be read shelf. I like the ride this story took me on. Being incarcerated for any reason can be detrimental to someone and their family. I like how this family rode the waves so they could be there for each other. Is this book going to be part of a series?

Tracey Lange is quickly becoming a master of messy family dynamics. In this story, the three adult Connelly siblings are all dealing with their own messes, many stemming from a childhood when oldest sibling Geraldine was essentially raising her younger siblings Eddie and Tara after their mother's death from cancer and their father's abandonment. Now Geraldine is dealing with hoarding, getting overwhelmed at work, and the consequences of never feeling like she could fail. Eddie is dealing with the physical toll of the traumatic brain injury he suffered when he was a child in a car accident with his father. And Tara is fresh out of jail for drug trafficking charges that are a result of her bete noire, trying to solve everyone's problems for them. And keeping a close eye on the siblings is Detective Brian Nolan, who is quickly falling for Tara and suspects there's more to her story than she's telling, and his uncle and partner Hank, who's ready to pull the trigger on Tara to get to drug dealer Roland Shea. This family has way more problems than the average one, but Lange does a great job of showing how in trying to protect each other, they also dig themselves deeper and create more problems - what they really need is to listen to each other and be a family unit that depends on each other. Both enjoyable for seeing the value of family, and for knowing that mine isn't this messed up - even if it isn't perfect! A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Character-driven portrayal of a family and their struggles. Twists, turns, and complicated situations. I read this book in less than 48 hours. Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

The Connellys of County Down
By Tracey Lange

I loved Lange’s debut novel, We Are the Brennans, so when I heard she had a release coming in August I was excited to give it a go.

Another phenomenal family drama by Lange, this follows Tara Connelly and her siblings Eddie and Geraldine. Tara, just released from prison with little money or options has no choice but to return to the family home with her siblings and nephew.

Eddie is a single dad and struggles with the long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury. Geraldine works hard to maintain an image of having it all together but has struggles of her own.

Shifting between each of the siblings POV and that of the officer who put Tara in prison, we discover secrets each of the characters are holding. And I love how at the heart of it, we are reminded how despite the struggles we all encounter, no one can have your back like family.

Another excellent character-driven fiction by Lange. It was official before, but I’ll say it again, I will read anything she puts out. The narration was delivered by Barrie Kerinik, who also narrated We Are the Brennans, and I loved experiencing the audio for both books.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

The Connellys of Count Down by Tracey Lange

Need a good family drama? This is it!! Also can we have a moment of silence for books under 300 pages?! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

From the author of “We Are The Brennan’s” comes another family drama starring Tara who is recently getting out of jail after serving 18 months for a drug trafficking charge. She goes home to live with her brother Eddie and his son Connor and also her sister Geraldine who has her own shady stuff going on 😳

Lange is the queen of writing a dysfunctional family in such a light tone, so it’s enjoyable, intriguing, and easy to digest.

It always centers around one family - here we have the Connellys - a messy, flawed family, trying to navigate life after a rough childhood. Despite all the many things they had going on, I respected the loyalty.

Read if you love:
✨Irish families!
✨dysfunction & chaos
✨a smidge of romance
✨a book under 300 pages with great pacing
✨flawed characters
✨her first “We Are The Brennan’s” (loved that their pub was mentioned within this one!)

My only “complaint” is that the ending felt a tad rushed - I feel like a few things could’ve been flushed out better, and the things that did get “solved” got tied up a little too nicely for my taste. But I did really love it and definitely recommend it!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @celadonbooks for the ARC! All thoughts are my own. This one is out Aug 1st!!! 🍀

In her sophomore effort, The Connellys of County Down, Tracey Lange again shows her keen ability to write about complicated family dynamics in well-designed story lines with complex and realistic characters.

The Connelly siblings have had a hard life. They've been on their own for a long time and have a fierce loyalty to each other even as each of them has his/her own struggles and demons to conquer. Tara, the youngest, 30 years old, has just returned home from prison after serving 18 months for a drug charge. Edde, a single father to son Conor, and a traumatic brain injury survivor struggles to do his best to provide for his son. Geraldine, the oldest, has raised her brother and sister, and likes things just so, so that she feels some control of her life which, unbeknownst to her siblings is spinning wildly out of control.

This heartwarming and heart wrenching story is about our bonds with family, second chances, loyalty, forgiveness, and owning your own life, mistakes and all. Though I personally like The Brennans better, I will continue to look for each of this author's offerings. I highly recommend this book!

My thanks to Celadon Books for permitting me to read a DRC of this book via NetGalley. It is scheduled for release 8/1/23. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and are freely given.

I thoroughly enjoyed We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange and her sophomore effort both did not disappoint and indeed surpassed my expectations. The story of the three Connolly siblings is captivating, heart breaking and compelling. This is a narrative driven literary family drama, perfect for fans of Ann Napolitano and Liz Moore. Highly recommend. Thanks NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC

I loved this character driven book filled with family drama and secrets! Even though I wanted to shake all of the characters at some point for their decisions, I could understand their motivations and it made it feel like I was reading about real people. I felt invested in the story from the start and by the end I had a hard time putting it down because I had to know how it was all going to come together.

The Connellys of County Down is another excellent family saga by Tracey Lange. Having read, We Are the Brennans, I was excited to read her next novel, and it didn’t disappoint. Drama and relationships combined with an Irish family will entice the reader.

The story begins with Tara’s homecoming from prison. She must assimilate into her family’s life and make up for lost time, especially with her nephew Connor. As Tara tries to make amends, she discovers family secrets and longtime issues, falls in love with an unlikely suitor, and struggles to avoid landing back in prison. Her siblings Geraldine and Eddie have their own problems, and Tara wants to solve them, even at a steep cost.

As usual, Lange develops endearing characters and an intense plot that keeps the reader invested. I thoroughly enjoy Lange’s books and hope there’s a sequel to The Connellys of County Down. I thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for letting me read and review The Connellys of County Down. #NetGalley #The Connellys of County Down #familysaga

I really enjoyed this story. Lange has a great way of describing family dramas with with love and thrill!
I didn't want to put the book down!

When Tara Connelly is released from serving eighteen months in prison she gets a ride home from the last person she ever expected. Brian, one of the cops responsible for putting her behind bars, keeps showing up in unexpected ways while Tara tries to reacclimatize to her free life. But her life outside of prison isn’t the same as when she left especially when it comes to her siblings Geraldine and Eddie. Tara is seemingly thrown back into the crosshairs when Brian’s partner (and Uncle) shows he is willing to do whatever necessary to get revenge.
This book is packed full of family drama and is so emotional. I found myself crying just reading about Tara’s struggles to get a job with her criminal record. This is so much more than an enemies to lovers women’s fiction. The reality of the difficulties after incarceration are really highlighted in this book. But it also highlights the kindness of people and the loyalty of family. Connor is truly a wonderful addition and I love his relationship with his Aunt Tara. He brings lots of humor and levity to some difficult situations. The cover is very pretty and the addition of Irish Fairy Tales is endearing. Definitely a great summer read, just have tissues ready! I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.

The Connellys of County Down sucked me in from the first chapter. Tara Connelly is released from prison and starts the process of putting her life back together. She moves in with her sister, brother, and nephew and immediately begins trying to solve all of her problems and her family's problems....while creating more complications for everyone with her choices. This family drama is about a complicated group of siblings and learning to trust and love again. It's about how far people will go to take care of and protect the ones they love. It's about second and third and fourth chances. It's about how people change and grow and learn. About how families can grow apart and come back together.

So many thanks to NetGalley for early access!

A gripping family drama that felt honest and endearing in its execution and kept me hooked from start to finish!

Tara Connelly has just been released from prison and is hoping to start fresh, but a detective with unclear intentions, a messy home life, and meek prospects are causing her to have doubts on a good future on the outside.

After loving We Are The Brennans, I was hopeful for The Connellys and they did not disappoint. Don't go in expecting an action packed drama, but rather a quiet look on life that can be messy but also filled with love shown in unexpected ways.

What I Enjoyed:
- Chaotic but Honest Sibling Dynamics
- The Main Character, Tara: She's equally chaotic but her intentions were always in the right place and I feel like she felt relatable and realistic in her actions given her circumstances and family history. She's fully fleshed out and I felt like I knew and understood her.
-Flawed but Realistic Side Characters: I despised a few of these side characters, but I understood them and I empathized with them and that speaks volumes to the author's ability to write them.
-The Length/Pacing: This was a quick read and I was able to enjoy it quickly and feel like I got the whole story from start to finish.

What I Struggled With:
- Loose Ends: Ok, but like what happened to the drug dealer!? There were a few plot points that although weren't crucial to the ending, I would've like a bit more clarity on. Roland, The Aunt's Wedding, Hank & Nolan's relationship?? I would've been okay with an epilogue or a couple more chapters if it met that I truly knew how everyone including the side characters ended up.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for gifting me a few copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange
Genre: contemporary fiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: audiobook and ebook

This book had me hooked from the first chapter - the main character is getting released from prison? Wait I’m gonna need all the details!

I loved the characters in this book and the drama that ensues. The Connelly siblings have a complicated family history and an interesting dynamic, which makes for an excellent story. I loved seeing the character development in this book! It would be a perfect pick for a book club.

You’ll like this book if you enjoy:
💙 family drama
💙 character development
💙 interconnected stories
💙 messy but lovable characters
💙 a touch of romance in your contemporary fiction
💙 great audiobooks
💙 complicated sibling relationships

Small note: this book is written in 3rd person. That doesn’t bother me, but I know some people aren’t a fan of that!

I’d definitely recommend this one! It comes out August 1st!

A big thank you to Celadon and NetGalley for my advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. This book was gifted, but all opinions are my own.