THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN by Tracey Lange (read on 🎧): You know that feeling when you start a book and immediately know it’s the perfect book at the perfect time? It has the right tone, the right mood, the right plot — everything just fits into place. So you settle into the pages like you’re wrapping yourself in a warm, comfy blanket, enjoying how precisely the story meshes with the current state of your brain and feeling confident that by the end, you will be completely satisfied.

I felt this sensation earlier in the year when I read THIS TIME TOMORROW by Emma Straub. And I felt it just as strongly with THE CONNELLYS OF COUNTY DOWN.

This character-driven family saga follows Tara Connelly, just released from prison on a drug trafficking charge, and her struggle to re-enter “real life” with her siblings: Geraldine, the anxious older sister who guards a troubling secret, and Eddie, a single dad still grappling with the after-effects of a long-ago traumatic brain injury. Further complicating matters is the police officer who helped put Tara behind bars, who keeps re-emerging in her life.

I can’t say it more plainly: I LOVED this book. I can’t quite put my finger on all of the things that made it the perfect read at the perfect time. Maybe it was the endearing, relatable characters. Maybe it was Tracey Lange’s smooth, flowing prose. Maybe it was the fantastic narration by Barrie Kreinik. Maybe it was the tightly woven plot that fit together perfectly. It just ticked all the boxes for me.

None of the plot twists in CONNELLYS were a surprise to me, but I think that’s how the author intended. They were a surprise to the other characters in the book, and that was enough for me.

If you’re looking for a plot-heavy, action-packed novel, this is not the book for you. But if you like character-driven family dramas, it might be right up your alley.

I’ll definitely be seeking out more of Tracey Lange’s work — I already have WE ARE THE BRENNANS ready to go on audio for later this month.

Read this if you like:
🪻Character-driven stories
🪻Family dramas
🪻Light, fade-to-black romance

I absolutely loved The Connelly’s of County Down by Tracey Lange. This is such an interesting, impactful, immersive story and I thoroughly enjoyed the reading of it. I was drawn into the narrative, engaged by the plot, and captivated by the characters. They felt authentic and flawed, but also relatable and inspiring in their own humble, realistic manner.

Tara Connelly has been released from prison after 18 months on a drug trafficking charge. Since her sister didn’t show up to bring her home, she rather shockingly received a ride home from Detective Brian Nolan, the very man who put her in prison in the first place! Once home, she realizes that her quirky, troubled, rather rigid sister, Geraldine, isn’t all that excited to have her back, clearly blames her for her incarceration, and has relegated Tara to a lower position and place in the family. Her brother, Eddie and his son, Connor, who also live at home with the family, are thrilled to have her back, but Tara questions why he never came to visit and why he has submitted to Geraldine’s control.

There is a lot that has been left unsaid in this secretive, struggling family and many things that have been kept hidden away, both literally and figuratively. Tara is determined to unearth these secrets and find a healthy way forward for her family. This is a story of healing, second chances, and complicated family dynamics.

There are many complex layers to this story: light and humorous plot points and dialogue, stirring events that occur that are poignant, or heart-warming, as well as tense moments ripe with suspicion and frustration. This novel touches on some heavier topics in a compassionate, but insightful manner. It is a relatively short novel, but also captivating in it’s study of human nature, our motivations, relationships, resilience, and personal resolve to overcome.

This is my first by the author, and I read it in a combo of audio and ebook, both through NetGalley. I think I preferred the print to the audio in this instance. I found the Connellys to be, frankly, a little troubled and had a hard time caring or connecting with the characters at first. I was mentally shaking my head and questioning so many of their decisions as the judgey-pants I am. By the end of the book, I could appreciate their family dynamics - imperfections and messiness and all, and despite not agreeing with many decisions made, I saw the heart or intention as they cared for one another. My one biggest desire would have been to explore the fairy tales and folklore referenced throughout the story more deeply. Overall, I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure it will linger.

The story begin as Tara Connelly is being released from prison after serving eighteen months due to a drug trafficking charge.

Ironically, the person who give her a ride home is Brian Nolan, the Detective who arrested her.

When Tara arrives home, she finds the atmosphere very uncomfortable to say the least.

Her siblings Eddie and Geraldine couldn’t be any more different. Eddie personality is reserved while Geraldine is defensive and she is also a hoarder.

As the story progresses, we see Tara trying to adjust to home life, and her siblings personalities emerge. Tara does finally finds a job she loves,

This is the story of love, learning from one another and letting go. The characters are flawed but as the story progresses, you will find a family’s journey to healing along with excellent character development.

If you are a fan of family drama and family-driven characters, I highly recommend this book

A big thank you to NetGalley and author Tracey Lange for an ARC.

This is my first book by this author and I loved it!

This was a character driven book and each member of the Connelly family was well developed. Despite the characters being messy and flawed, they each showed growth that was relatable. I loved the complicated family dynamics which added such a rich layer to the story. The family was so fiercely loyal that it clouded their judgment time and time again but also led to me rooting for them every step of the way.
For a character driven book, the plot moved fast and I devoured this in one day.
This may be one of my favorites of the year!

This story is told in third person and follows the Connelly siblings along with a local cop in New York. It’s a great exploration of family dynamics which usually isn’t a subject that I gravitate towards, but I found this story very readable and compelling.

Life has left these siblings with mostly each other to depend on for most of the years of their youth. One sibling tries to control everything with rules and schedules, one sibling tries to fix everyone’s problems without their input, and the remaining sibling is just trying to make it through the day juggling their job and parenting without being crippled with anxiety or a seizure. And they all have secrets from each other.

It has mostly likeable characters to root for with real issues, and even though you can see some of the problems coming, it was a great ride and I enjoyed it so much more than I expected. I even checked out the authors previous book and audio less than 5 minutes after finishing this one. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Tara Connelly has just been released from prison on parole after serving eighteen months on a drug trafficking charge. With no money and no career to go back to, she returns to her childhood home to live with her sister, her brother, and her brother’s son. Tara’s siblings each have their own issues keeping them preoccupied, and the detective who arrested Tara keeps showing up leaving Tara wondering what he wants from her. When secrets come to light, Tara’s future is threatened, and the Connellys could lose each other forever.

I loved Tracey Lange’s first book, We Are the Brennans, so I had been anxiously awaiting her second novel. I’m happy to say that she avoided the sophomore slump. This is a moving family drama about how far we go to protect family and the repercussions of that protection. The tension in the story built nicely, keeping me turning the pages. If you enjoy family dramas, second chances, and a little romance, you’ll enjoy this book.

This was a good, mostly heart warming story of sibling devotion. Great writing accompanied the plot with Tara returning from prison on a drug trafficking charge - and of course there is more to the story than it seems. Eddie is continuing to deal with a disability from a prior incident and Geraldine has secrets of her own. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. The Connellys of County Down is now available.

The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange is a fabulous read. It is part Family Fiction and part Women’s Fiction with a touch of Thriller. I couldn’t put it down!
I really liked the FMC, Tara, but was also so frustrated by her. Tara and her siblings were all struggling with their childhood trauma. They are a flawed family with a lot of love between them but also a lot of baggage.
I loved the way the story unfolded. I enjoyed the love story. I liked the way the past was slowly revealed. I appreciated the major emotional reactions I had to certain characters or situations. I related to the sibling interactions and I adored the love between Tara and her nephew.

I have posted this review on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cvh6fw_LwtG/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5733293057

And Amazon

Really enjoyed the authors first novel the Brennans and was really excited to read her latest.I was drawn right in to this one the family drama the characters kept me reading late into the night so well done so involving enjoyed from beginning to end ready for her next novel.#netgalley #celadon

This book is a wonderful story that honestly portrays the ramifications of physical and emotional trauma on an entire family. It is also a great story of loyalty and new beginnings. The characters are sometimes frustrating but likeable in spite of their flaws. I enjoyed getting to know them. Thanks #NetGalley #Celadon

This is a heck of a family drama.... heavy on the drama. With that said though, not a lot actually happens. This moves fairly slowly and is pretty predictable, but I still enjoyed it. 3.5 stars overall. If you liked We are the Brennans you'll like this.

I absolutely loved this book! This was such a well-done family drama. The characters and relationships were nuanced and complex, and even when the characters made really poor decisions, you could understand them and why they were doing what they were doing. I really loved all the members of the Connelly family.

I thought the issues the family dealt with were done so in a beautiful way and I loved the family loyalty the characters felt for one another. Even when they weren’t getting along, they always took care of each other.

Lange is definitely going on my auto-read list. I’d definitely recommend this book if you like a good family drama.

Once upon a time there was a mother who made up a fairy tale for her children called the Connellys of County Down. On a quest for their castle they encountered many adventures, and needed each other to get through the perils and pitfalls they would have to face. As the children grew up the fairy tale became a distant memory, but their place in the story is still fresh in their minds.

Every sibling has a role to play in both the fairy tale, and in the family dynamic. Geraldine is the oldest, the protector, the strong one. Eddie is the one who keeps everyone going, the one who rallies the troops and keeps spirits high. Tara is the youngest, the one who knows which direction to go, plans how to help her siblings. While this family has its secrets and its issues, at the heart of the story are three people who would do anything for each other. While the story was sometimes predictable I was still invested in each of them, and rooted for them right up until the very end. The star of the novel is Connor, Eddie's son, and how he brings out the best in every one of the Connelly siblings.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If I’m being honest… I don’t think I read the description of this book before requesting an advanced copy. I started reading the book and quickly realized the plot was nothing like what I thought it was.. but I was sucked in immediately.

The book is fast paced, engaging and made me want to keep reading. I full blown started and finished it in a single afternoon. All the characters have so many faults and make so many wrong decisions but are so likeable that you can’t help but root for them. I really enjoyed the book even though I went in expecting something else!

I went into The Connellys of County Down with high expectations after seeing so many glowing reviews. And for the most part, I was not disappointed.

The story follows Tara Connelly, recently released from prison, who returns home to live with her sister, brother and young nephew. But everyone is carrying baggage from their childhood and eventually things begin to implode. It is a strongly character driven story that focuses on family relationships, the difficulties of escaping our roles in the family dynamic, and how we are shaped by our past experiences and expectations. My heart ached for each of these characters and what they'd been through, and I was cheering for all of them all the way.

I was expecting a bit more drama in Geraldine's storyline and, honestly, I wasn't crazy about Tara's new relationship with the cop who put her behind bars. It just seemed a little forced. I adored Eddie and his young son who idolizes Tara. Lange's writing, however, is evocative and precise, capturing the mood and setting and weaving them together seamlessly.

Highly recommend this for fans of family drama and characters who evolve through hardship and love.

Where do I subscribe to get Conor’s corny-yet-fantastic jokes sent to me daily? But seriously, those jokes were magic.

I devoured Lange’s debut novel, We Are The Brennan’s, so I was beyond excited to dig into her latest, THE CONNELLY’S OF COUNTY DOWN. Lange is the master of family drama and emotionally complex storytelling. She manages to capture everyday people and everyday family dynamics that we would know ourselves, making her characters and novels some of the most realistic I’ve come across in reading. Lange introduces us to a new set of siblings this time who are just as vulnerable and relatable as the Brennan’s were.

THE CONNELLY’S OF COUNTY DOWN adds a new layer that includes law enforcement and mental health – adding for an intense, multi-layered narrative. I loved the parallel with a surprise reappearance of Brennan’s in this novel, which I thought was so thoughtful and creative. I rarely read books that feature other characters/pieces from another novel in their current book, so this was a sweet surprise to be able to catch up with the characters readers grew to know and love in the last novel.

There’s so much potential for Lange to build out West Chester with more compelling characters and storyline and I’m hopeful to catch up with the Connelly’s in a future novel.

Thanks so much for the e-ARC provided through Netgalley @celadonbooks!

I thought the Connelly’s of County Down was a complex, intriguing and well written family story. It moved at a great pace, as we learned about all of the Connelly’s and the struggles they were facing, both together and as individuals.
This was my first novel by Tracey Lange and I thought she did an excellent job with character development and an engaging story. I will definitely pick up future books by thus author.
Thank you Celadon Books for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very nice page turner. It was my BOTM pick and I'm so glad I choose it.

You meet a family, the Connellys, in this story. Start out with Tara who is being released from prison. She was a school teacher who got caught with drugs under the seat of her truck. She refuses to speak or defend herself only saying she knows nothing about the dealer who the cops are convinced she is covering for. They just can't figure out why. Why would she risk her freedom and her job for this horrible person. She's given a few chances to talk but ultimately won't so she is sent to prison for eighteen months. Upon release one of the detectives from her arrest is there to talk to her. Detective Brian Nolan wants to speak with Tara but when something happens that she can't get a ride he offers her one.

This story is about how much a sister loves her siblings. How these three, Tara, Geraldine, and Eddie, have always been there for each other. What each one attributes to this story is amazing. How they survived a sad upbringing to be the good people they are capable of being is told in this book. Each has a story. Each has a problem. But throughout it all they are strong and always there for each other. Even in the face of what happens in this story.

This author has taken a family and given them real problems. Given them real emotions. Situations that can possibly happen in a family. Made them stronger. Each one has a story. A fear. A problem. Geraldine is the eldest and has taken care of her younger brother and sister for many years. She's been the provider, caregiver, bill paying, cook, and kept them together. Now they are all grown but still stay together and help each other out no matter what the cost. I love this family. I was aggravated a few times but still love them. They wormed their way into my heart.

And it's a love story too.....

Thank you #NetGalley, #TraceyLange, #CeladonBooks for this ARC. Also a big thank you to BOTM for it being a BOTM and my choice... This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five huge stars. It was so good. Just have a few tissues handy. You'll need them.

I mentioned The Connellys Of County Down with the Tuesday releases but wanted to give it a special shoutout as well. I loved it as much as We Are The Brennans. It is a family drama but you’ve got likable characters and a family who truly love each other. And her new cover isn’t hard on the eyes either. Gorgeous! Stop by The Depot this weekend to pick up a copy or message me to order. You’ll want both books. Trust me!