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bellebookcorner's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Miscarriage, Car accident, and Alcohol
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, and Death of parent
Minor: Mental illness and Murder
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"We Are the Brennans" is a heartwarming story about family. When Sunday Brennan is hospitalized following a DUI, she is resistant to leave her California home to move back to New York with her family. She has spent the last several years trying to distance herself from her past, her overbearing brothers, and an ex that she has unresolved issues with. But, at the end of the day, New York is where she needs to go in order to get back to herself.
I was not expecting to be as captivated by this story as I was. The Brennans are complex family that all have their secrets, but at the end of the day, they are always there for each other in the best way they know how. Their family dynamic is riddled with flaws, but in spite of all of the judgment, they are family.
Sunday's story takes an interesting turn that I did not see coming, but it makes the events in the first half of the novel make all the more sense. I really wanted to see her get some justice and credit from her family for her situation, and when she finally did, I was screaming.
The book does take a darker turn, which I do not think was necessary per say, but I think it made sense for the character and his motivation.
I really enjoyed this story, and I am excited to read more from Tracey Lange in the future!
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Gaslighting, and Car accident
Moderate: Classism, Gun violence, Pregnancy, and Death of parent
Minor: Infidelity
stephmcoakley's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Stalking, Death, Pregnancy, Cancer, Death of parent, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Car accident, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Gun violence, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Medical trauma, and Sexual harassment
sorcha's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Miscarriage
Minor: Domestic abuse, Dementia, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Cancer, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Murder
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
- 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
This was a good family drama. I really liked the dynamic of the siblings and how they had each other's backs no matter what. So much of their relationship was about keeping and protecting their family secrets from others and each other.
Generally so many POVs would throw me off, but I think it was well done in this book. I enjoyed getting into the heads of all of the characters.
I didn't think that the secret that drove Sunday away was as dramatic as it was made out to be.
Also, I figured out that it was the dad pretty early on. It was obvious that he would do anything to protect his children and make up for what he did in the past.
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Grief, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Gun violence, Death of parent, and Infidelity
juliamb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Car accident, Miscarriage, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Blood, Classism, Cursing, Gun violence, Murder, Death of parent, Infidelity, Dementia, and Toxic relationship
dayingst's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Car accident, Murder, Alcohol, and Gun violence
chris_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Miscarriage, Infidelity, and Abandonment
Moderate: Car accident, Sexual assault, Dementia, Mental illness, Ableism, and Alcohol
Minor: Blood, Cancer, and Murder
bringmybooks's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
B̷R̷I̷N̷G̷ ✨ 𝗕𝗢𝗥𝗥𝗢𝗪 ✨ B̷Y̷P̷A̷S̷S̷
I wasn't really sure what to expect going into this; I had gotten We Are The Brennans from BOTM (Book of the Month) a while ago, and honestly other than the family having connections to (and/or living in) Ireland, I didn't remember much about the synopsis.
It's a book about family. The family you're born into, the family you choose, and the family you sometimes have to leave. It was a somewhat weird read, because while I didn't feel myself overly emotionally attached to any of the characters of the plotlines, I couldn't put the book down?
My favorite part of the book was the multiple POV narration, and especially the way the narrators switched off. Whichever character spoke last at the end of a chapter, their quote would be repeated at the beginning of the next chapter and the POV would switch to them. It had this really neat effect of having you follow the story throughout the book in a seamless and (almost interactive?) way that I really liked.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go start planning yet another fantasy trip to Ireland because I have wanted to go since I was maybe 6 years old? And that was 30 years ago? Sigh.
Graphic: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Car accident, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Physical abuse, Sexism, Infidelity, Dementia, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Cancer, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Violence, and Rape
Minor: Pregnancy
ifoundcallie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Car accident, Gun violence, and Dementia
Minor: Murder, Violence, Death, Classism, Blood, Chronic illness, and Death of parent