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leahgustafson's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed We Are the Brennans when I read it last year so I looked forward to picking this one up. However, I found that I did not connect with this one in the same way.
•
I LOVE complex characters/family stories, and this has the potential to be a good one. The story begins when Tara Connelly is released from prison and is attempting to rebuild her life. Tara moves back in with her siblings who all have secrets and struggles of their own. In my opinion, the biggest “miss” for this book is that there could have been much more character development. I also wanted to see more growth in the relationship between the siblings.
•
I felt like the romance was a little bit of a stretch. I’m not opposed to it and it offers some good themes to explore, but I felt it didn’t quite fit. I would have preferred to focus on the development of/the relationship between siblings. There were a few other plot points that seemed a little far fetched also.
•
Overall, this one wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but I would still read other books by Tracey Lange in the future!
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
•
I LOVE complex characters/family stories, and this has the potential to be a good one. The story begins when Tara Connelly is released from prison and is attempting to rebuild her life. Tara moves back in with her siblings who all have secrets and struggles of their own. In my opinion, the biggest “miss” for this book is that there could have been much more character development. I also wanted to see more growth in the relationship between the siblings.
•
I felt like the romance was a little bit of a stretch. I’m not opposed to it and it offers some good themes to explore, but I felt it didn’t quite fit. I would have preferred to focus on the development of/the relationship between siblings. There were a few other plot points that seemed a little far fetched also.
•
Overall, this one wasn’t quite what I was hoping for, but I would still read other books by Tracey Lange in the future!
•
Check out what I'm reading next on Instagram @LeahsLitReview!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Mental illness
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
daydaybookbay's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I rated this book an 8 out of 10. The main drive behind the story is the characters and their problems. There isn't a big plotline to move the story along. Even without a focused plot, I enjoyed reading about each character's personal struggles.
Tara, Eddie, and Geraldine Connelly are adult siblings who live together and provide more than enough drama for themselves. Anyone with siblings will be able to relate to the love and frustrations siblings bring. This strong dynamic held between the family pulls each aspect of the story together. Reading from each of their point of view, the commonality is the bond these siblings continue building on.
The biggest twist was not much of a twist or surprise at all. From the get-go, there is a crazy amount of foreshadowing to the point its basically revealed within the first few chapters. To me, the plot lines are not the key factor of this novel, but the characters themselves are the focus. With each chapter brings more character development, and you begin to feel a bond with them individually.
Tara, Eddie, and Geraldine Connelly are adult siblings who live together and provide more than enough drama for themselves. Anyone with siblings will be able to relate to the love and frustrations siblings bring. This strong dynamic held between the family pulls each aspect of the story together. Reading from each of their point of view, the commonality is the bond these siblings continue building on.
The biggest twist was not much of a twist or surprise at all. From the get-go, there is a crazy amount of foreshadowing to the point its basically revealed within the first few chapters. To me, the plot lines are not the key factor of this novel, but the characters themselves are the focus. With each chapter brings more character development, and you begin to feel a bond with them individually.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Mental illness, Cursing, Violence, Abandonment, Death, Drug use, Addiction, Car accident, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Cancer
mysterymom40's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Abandonment, Grief, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Drug use, and Classism
katiejohns's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Car accident, Drug use, Death of parent, Grief, and Mental illness
kimveach's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved these flawed and real characters and the problems they face when they keep secrets instead of communicating. I also loved the author's debut book, "We Are the Brennans," and look forward to more books from her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Cursing, Mental illness, Police brutality, Abandonment, Ableism, Cancer, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Confinement, Death of parent, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, and Panic attacks/disorders
jennabeck13's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange
⭐️⭐️ (2/5)
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
About 270 pages
The Connellys have had it rough since they were kids. Tara, Eddie, and Geraldine lost their mom to illness at a young age, and then their father abandoned them a few years later. Eddie has dealt with a traumatic brain injury for years. Tara is just getting out of prison from a drug charge. And Geraldine feels like she is responsible for their entire house/family. Put this all together, and it makes for some uncomfortable circumstances and interactions upon Tara’s return home. On top of that, the cop who arrested Tara won’t leave them alone. If they want to survive this turbulent time, the family needs to stop keeping secrets from one another, take responsibility for their parts in the family drama, and stop tip-toeing around each other. The Connellys of County Down tackles the issue of how far is too far to protect your family. At what point is fierce loyalty actually hurting your loved ones?
Given the 3.9 ⭐️ rating on GoodReads, I think I’m in the minority on not liking this one. Although I empathized with all of the siblings and found Tara’s behavior to be admirable, I didn’t connect to any of the characters. The pacing was also quite slow, making a relatively short book feel pretty long.
Favorite Quote: “But he knew what lingered was the sting of truth in what they’d said to each other. The most honest words didn’t have to be loud or dramatic to cut deep.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Drug use, Death, Death of parent, and Addiction
kelly_e's review
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Title: The Connellys of County Down
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: August 1, 2023
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies of this book from Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Mysterious • Relatable • Reflective
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile façade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After absolutely loving Tracey Lange's debut, We Are the Brennans, I was super excited to see she was releasing a new novel in 2023. One of my most anticipated releases, I picked The Connellys of County Down as my August pick for my personal book of the month project, and when Celadon offered me an advanced copy I wouldn't click 'yes' fast enough.
Centered around three siblings, the pacing keep me wanting more. The story unraveled slowly with each chapter offering new tidbits of information as to how everything would connect. From the very start, there was an underlying mysterious tone. The siblings were each flawed and relatable in their own way, and their relationships with one another were layered and complex. At various points it was hard to figure out whether to feel sorry for them or to empathize with them. It is clear Lange's background in behavioural science and psychology helped shape the narrative surrounding Eddie's traumatic brain injury, and Geraldine's hoarding. Both of these aspects were handled with care and realistically.
The novel is on the shorter side, and I just couldn't put it down. However, it was the ending that left me slightly dissatisfied. Not only did it end abruptly, but after so much conflict everything ended tied up with a pretty little bow, which just felt unrealistic. There were several other possible endings that made more sense in my head.
I tandem read the digital and audio versions, and I must say the audio narration by Barrie Kreinik really brought the family to life. Each character had a distinct voice, which made following along easy. Pacing was very well done and accents were done with excellent intonation.
Overall, I appreciated the themes of family obligation and starting anew, making The Connellys of County Down a satisfying read. I just would have preferred a different ending. After reading her sophomore novel, it really cements Tracey Lange as an auto-buy author for me, and I will eagerly be awaiting whatever she writes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• lovers of the family saga
• readers who like character driven stories
• fans of messy sibling relationships
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I don’t think you do the rest of us any favors when you don’t let us carry our own burdens."
Author: Tracey Lange
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: August 1, 2023
I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies of this book from Celadon Books and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Mysterious • Relatable • Reflective
📖 S Y N O P S I S
When Tara Connelly is released from prison after serving eighteen months on a drug charge, she knows rebuilding her life at thirty years old won’t be easy. With no money and no prospects, she returns home to live with her siblings, who are both busy with their own problems. Her brother, a single dad, struggles with the ongoing effects of a brain injury he sustained years ago, and her sister’s fragile façade of calm and order is cracking under the burden of big secrets. Life becomes even more complicated when the cop who put her in prison keeps showing up unannounced, leaving Tara to wonder what he wants from her now.
💭 T H O U G H T S
After absolutely loving Tracey Lange's debut, We Are the Brennans, I was super excited to see she was releasing a new novel in 2023. One of my most anticipated releases, I picked The Connellys of County Down as my August pick for my personal book of the month project, and when Celadon offered me an advanced copy I wouldn't click 'yes' fast enough.
Centered around three siblings, the pacing keep me wanting more. The story unraveled slowly with each chapter offering new tidbits of information as to how everything would connect. From the very start, there was an underlying mysterious tone. The siblings were each flawed and relatable in their own way, and their relationships with one another were layered and complex. At various points it was hard to figure out whether to feel sorry for them or to empathize with them. It is clear Lange's background in behavioural science and psychology helped shape the narrative surrounding Eddie's traumatic brain injury, and Geraldine's hoarding. Both of these aspects were handled with care and realistically.
The novel is on the shorter side, and I just couldn't put it down. However, it was the ending that left me slightly dissatisfied. Not only did it end abruptly, but after so much conflict everything ended tied up with a pretty little bow, which just felt unrealistic. There were several other possible endings that made more sense in my head.
I tandem read the digital and audio versions, and I must say the audio narration by Barrie Kreinik really brought the family to life. Each character had a distinct voice, which made following along easy. Pacing was very well done and accents were done with excellent intonation.
Overall, I appreciated the themes of family obligation and starting anew, making The Connellys of County Down a satisfying read. I just would have preferred a different ending. After reading her sophomore novel, it really cements Tracey Lange as an auto-buy author for me, and I will eagerly be awaiting whatever she writes next.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• lovers of the family saga
• readers who like character driven stories
• fans of messy sibling relationships
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"I don’t think you do the rest of us any favors when you don’t let us carry our own burdens."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Cursing, Car accident, and Death
Minor: Addiction, Abandonment, Drug use, and Drug abuse
drug trafficking, overdose, incarcerationsoobooksalot's review
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
The Connellys didn't hook me quite like the Brennans.
Thank you to Celadon Books for my eARC for review!
The Connellys Of County Down is the story of Tara, newly released from prison after a drug trafficking charge. She moves back in with her siblings Geraldine and Eddie, lands a new job, and takes on a new relationship with an unexpected mate. There's family history and drama bubbling to the surface.
The writing was solid, but my interest came and went throughout. Ultimately this was quite a good book, just not what I needed right now. Regardless, recommended!
Released on Aug. 1.
Thank you to Celadon Books for my eARC for review!
The Connellys Of County Down is the story of Tara, newly released from prison after a drug trafficking charge. She moves back in with her siblings Geraldine and Eddie, lands a new job, and takes on a new relationship with an unexpected mate. There's family history and drama bubbling to the surface.
The writing was solid, but my interest came and went throughout. Ultimately this was quite a good book, just not what I needed right now. Regardless, recommended!
Released on Aug. 1.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Death of parent, and Drug use
xlivinglikejen's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug use, and Medical trauma
emilylovesgoodbooks's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Abandonment