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ukponge's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Pregnancy
kellynoyes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
An entertaining family saga told from multiple perspectives, but the characters make such dumb decisions it becomes hard to root for any of them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy and Alcoholism
ewarde's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
When I first finished the book, I found the ending disappointing, but after a few hours of letting it sit on my brain and reflecting on it... it was actually the perfect ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Chronic illness
amandalorianxo's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
2.75
This was heavily marketed as a comparison to the Shameless family but minus both of them being big and drama infused - I didn’t think the connection made too much sense. Regardless- there was a lot of tension and secrets that eventually were brought to light. The strong victim blaming, especially done by the mother, felt uncomfortable. I do wish we got to know Shane more as a person. I also wish authors would stop explaining and telling some of the important backstory. It felt a little like I dropped into a historical documentary at times. Minus that - this was a decent book. Some of it was a tad predictable but you can’t win them all.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Death, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage, Infidelity, and Injury/Injury detail
bookdragonkatie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Miscarriage and Violence
Minor: Abandonment, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
hawktilly's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I love a good family drama, and this was a solid debut -- a quick read that kept moving. But, multiple (!!!) narrators meant the author revisited the same events numerous times, which showed the plot at times. And there was a specific little device used at the beginning of each chapter, which after a bit, took me out of the story and into noticing "which narrator was going to be up next ".
Content Warnings
Moderate: Car accident, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, and Alcoholism
katyisreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
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
4.5
Here with another enthusiastic review of WE ARE THE BRENNANS for your feed 🍀
The book opens with Sunday Brennan, in LA, drunk driving. This first scene is so well-done, so off-putting (and potentially triggering) that I knew it was going to be an emotional book.
And I was right! The first half was a little bit of a slow burn, leading up to a second half that I couldn’t put down. This book examines just how far we’re willing to go to protect our family, both biological and chosen.
I recommend this one for anyone who loves a good family story like THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD.
The book opens with Sunday Brennan, in LA, drunk driving. This first scene is so well-done, so off-putting (and potentially triggering) that I knew it was going to be an emotional book.
And I was right! The first half was a little bit of a slow burn, leading up to a second half that I couldn’t put down. This book examines just how far we’re willing to go to protect our family, both biological and chosen.
I recommend this one for anyone who loves a good family story like THE MOST FUN WE EVER HAD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Miscarriage
katesquire's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage and Alcoholism
Moderate: Murder
bookmarksandcaffeine's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Short: Intimate as in family intimate because the reader gets a good look at this family from all angles 💚 An NYC/Irish family bar, an old secret, a loan shark, a vendetta and a gun… what could go wrong. Basically everything and it all happens in this multiple point of view, contemporary family drama.
The Long: I liked reading about this fiercely Irish catholic family minus one person’s storyline which I can’t tell you because it’s a spoiler. But it’s like a bad take on second chance romance 👎🏻 I loved how each chapter/POV ended with dialogue and the next chapter started with that same dialogue but from a different characters perspective. Descriptive writing similar to TJR. It slowed down a little too much in the middle for me and I *personally* didn’t love how it ended but I also acknowledge that life is messy and it’s the author’s book and not mine. It was just a lil abrupt and… exaggerated? Idk the word but it wasn’t love.
Oversimplified and this is the second book lately where I feel like …. If they had just communicated nOnE oF tHiS wOuLd HaVe HaPpEnEd.
Cover: B
Ending: B
Read next ↔️ Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, any TJR
The Long: I liked reading about this fiercely Irish catholic family minus one person’s storyline which I can’t tell you because it’s a spoiler. But it’s like a bad take on second chance romance 👎🏻 I loved how each chapter/POV ended with dialogue and the next chapter started with that same dialogue but from a different characters perspective. Descriptive writing similar to TJR. It slowed down a little too much in the middle for me and I *personally* didn’t love how it ended but I also acknowledge that life is messy and it’s the author’s book and not mine. It was just a lil abrupt and… exaggerated? Idk the word but it wasn’t love.
Oversimplified and this is the second book lately where I feel like …. If they had just communicated nOnE oF tHiS wOuLd HaVe HaPpEnEd.
Cover: B
Ending: B
Read next ↔️ Last Summer at the Golden Hotel, any TJR
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Death
naomidanae's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Miscarriage, Mental illness, and Car accident
Moderate: Blood, Gun violence, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Death of parent, Grief, Violence, and Sexual violence
Minor: Chronic illness, Gaslighting, and Murder